The snarling 'Beast of Buchan' captured alive in chicken shed

From the Press and Journal: 7 Feb. 2009

Teacher traps very rare wildcat he thought was a fox killing his hens

By Ryan Crighton

An extremely rare wildcat which is believed to have been stalking the Buchan
countryside for months has been captured by a teacher.

Dave Harris, of Crudie, near Banff, thought that a fox had massacred his chickens on Sunday night and set a trap.

However, the art teacher went out the next day to find a snarling wildcat in the make-shift pen.

Scottish wildcat numbers have fallen to just over 300 and they could become extinct within a decade.

However, there have been several sightings recently in the Fraserburgh area and it is believed that the captured cat could be the same animal.

Mr Harris, 52, said: "When I entered my poultry shed on Monday there were three chickens dead and body parts were everywhere. I was puzzled, because I didn't think a fox would be able to get in, but I set a trap to try and catch it because I thought it would come back.

"When I went out the next day I saw the outline of an animal in the pen and just as I went to open the cage, I decided to get a torch. It is just as well, because when I shone the torch at the pen the wildcat started growling.

"It was incredibly angry and it had a deep, deep growl. However, these animals are very rare and I feel lucky to have had the chance to see one up close. But it certainly came as a shock."

Mr Harris, who teaches art at primary schools in the Mintlaw Academy catchment area, took the wildcat to the Willows Animal Sanctuary, near New Pitsligo because no other charity would take it.

Willows staff called in New Deer vet Laurence Brain, who examined the cat before releasing it back into the wild.

Last night Mr Brain said he could not disclose where it was released because of client confidentiality.

Scottish wildcats are considered completely untameable, even when reared in captivity. They are incredibly tough "super-predators" , and are sometimes called "the Tiger of the Highlands".

The Scottish Wildcat Association says they are "pound for pound one of the most impressive predators in the world - intelligent, fearless, resourceful, patient, agile and powerful".

Weighing up to 18lb, they resemble a large domestic cat. There were three sightings in the Fraserburgh area within a week in August - at Pitullie, Tyrie Castle and Peathill, near Rosehearty.