The Beast of Exmoor

Since 1983, residents of Exmoor in southwest England have reported sightings of a large black cat roaming the moorland. The creature has been blamed for hundreds of livestock kills and multiple close encounters with terrified witnesses.

The Sightings

Witnesses describe a large feline, black or dark brown, approximately four to six feet in length. It moves with the grace of a big cat and has been seen leaping fences with ease. The eyes glow in vehicle headlights.

The Livestock Kills

Farmers on Exmoor have lost hundreds of sheep to something other than foxes or dogs. The kills are clean, with throats torn and bodies partially eaten in ways consistent with big cat predation. Some carcasses are found dragged into trees.

The Investigation

In 1983, the Royal Marines were called in to hunt the beast after it killed over 100 sheep in three months. Despite extensive patrols using night vision and trained trackers, the creature was never found. Sightings continued.

The Evidence

Photographs and video footage have been captured, though quality is often poor. Paw prints found on the moor are consistent with large feline species. Hair samples have been recovered, though DNA analysis has been inconclusive.

Assessment

The Beast of Exmoor is likely an escaped or released exotic cat, possibly a puma or leopard. The Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976 led many exotic pet owners to release their animals rather than register them. Whatever it is, something large and predatory stalks the moors.