Nov 19, 2023 · 1 hr 3 min
BC
Science
Big Cat Conversations
Rick Minter
The People's Podcast on Big Cat encounters in Britain. In each episode Rick Minter discusses big cat sightings with different witnesses, finding out what they saw or sensed, how they felt, and how these cases fit a bigger picture.
- 142 episodes
- Updated Wednesday
Episodes142
- BCSep 30, 2023 · 1 hr 11 min
BCC EP:101 Lake District leopards
We catch up with Cumbrian investigator Sharon Larkin at the end of the Westmorland Show where Rick and Sharon were meeting witnesses and visitors to the big cat stand. Sharon explains how she follows up reports on her Facebook page, Big Cats in Cumbria. She describes several of her own encounters with large black cats and she justifies why she believes these are leopards, including the one she photographed near Gretna in 2014 as it spooked cows and consumed a rabbit. South West investigator Paul Ramsden visited the show and also chipped in, comparing Cumbria’s big cat landscape with his home base in Gloucestershire. He and Sharon recount their highlights from people’s reports at the big cat stand at the show. We are also joined by Ian, Sharon’s husband. He describes his own big cat sighting and he and Sharon reflect on the family’s experience living with the subject and owning two cats bred from servals… More show notes, photos and messages are on this link… bigcatconversations.com/refs-links/ Words of the week: savannah cats 30 September 2023
- BCAug 19, 2023 · 1 hr 43 min
BCC EP:100 Where the wild things are
For our centenary show we met with 25 contacts in a Herefordshire pub, to talk big cats, sample the local cider, and eat celebration panther cakes. We heard sighting reports from Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Dorset – two of which were genuinely ‘close’ encounters. David, one of the witnesses, also described the perfect footage he’d been shown of a black leopard in Herefordshire. Mark Graves led a discussion on tracking and ‘where next?’ for investigating big cats, and we heard different views on how best to use a sum of £5,000 for getting more evidence. When we discussed big cats in our culture, Fleur reminded us of Roman finds in Britain in which the Greek god of wine and dance Dionysus is accompanied by a panther… Look out for Youtube extracts of this episode 100 to be linked on the Big Cat Conversations website and YT Channel in late August 2023. Word of the week: spoor 19 August 2023
- BCJul 29, 2023 · 1 hr 16 min
BCC EP:99 The dumping grounds – exploring the rogue wildlife
Phebe has been following-up big cat reports in different places for 30 years. She’s been trusted with local information on big cat incidents, and has witnessed a lynx in Hertfordshire and two black leopards together in SW Wales. We hear of her own cat encounters and some memorable information she’s received from friends and contacts experiencing big cats. We also discuss whether the reported cats may be staying close to the sources of their first releases, or if other suitable areas are becoming a sink for them. Words of the week: exotic animals 29 July 2023
- BCJul 7, 2023 · 1 hr 11 min
BCC EP:98 Derbyshire dales – hidden homes of the big cats
Gareth is a reporter for local papers in Derbyshire and joins us as another journalist guest on the podcast, following Tristan in episode 94. Gareth has had a long-term interest in big cat encounters and has glimpsed one himself. He explains how big cat stories get high hit rates in the media, so local newspapers welcome news of people’s sightings. Gareth describes some key big cat events in Derbyshire, including the release of lynx at the former Riber Castle zoo, the long-running Carsington Beast reports, and a farmer finding his dogs confronting a lynx. Gareth also reflects on the time he received a hoax report and photo, and Rick refers to some recent big cat cases in Derbyshire and a TV show episode due in Summer 2023 which features Derbyshire big cat cases. See our Refs and Links page at https://bigcatconversations.com/refs-links/ for details of the May 2023 YouGuv survey on people’s belief in big cats living wild in Britain. Words of the week: media algorithm 7 July 2023
- BCJun 17, 2023 · 1 hr 11 min
BCC EP:97 Crossing paths with a Glastonbury panther
In the first half we hear from Jayne – she caught sight of a black panther with several of her jogging friends one morning this year in Somerset. Other friends had previously told her of their alleged reports at the Glastonbury festival area. In the second half, Mark Graves returns after episode 95. He reflects on a recent day spent with big cat investigators in Gloucestershire, and he explains how he survived a crocodile attack during his time in South Africa. Words of the week: aposematic colouration 17 June 2023
- BCMay 26, 2023 · 1 hr 10 min
BCC EP:96 Gamekeeper big cat diaries
George is a retired gamekeeper in Herefordshire. He recounts his sighting of a local black panther, and many years before, a puma in a forest near Bodmin in Cornwall. George also discusses his regrets at shooting an adult black panther as well as what appeared to be a young one, in recent years in Herefordshire – local farmers were experiencing sheep kills at the time. George explains why both the shot cats matched the description of a leopard. George considers that from his experience, farmers and keepers may tolerate big cats if they avoid sheep predation. Word of the week: DNA 26 May 2023
- BCMay 4, 2023 · 1 hr 32 min
BCC EP:95 Living with leopards - Africa & Britain compared
Former South African farmer & wilderness guide Mark Graves briefs us on living with leopards in South Africa, where he has guided Kruger National Park visitors and trained trackers on leopards and the Big 5. Mark takes us through some of his close observations of leopards and he explains the moments when he once had to face and retreat from an advancing lioness. Now based in Britain, Mark discusses the large cats reportedly living here, and considers how we can live alongside them. Word of the week: anthropomorphism 5 May 2023
- BCApr 13, 2023 · 1 hr 2 min
BCC EP:94 West Country big cats – behind the headlines
Tristan is senior reporter at the Bristol Post newspaper where big cat stories are rare. In contrast, he routinely heard of people’s big cat incidents in his former role with the Western Daily Press. We hear highlights of the big cat accounts he reported on, and learn how he realised big cat sightings were a genuine part of the rural scene. Then one day, a large stealthy black animal arrived in his own local fields… Word of the week: clickbait 14 April 2023
- BCMar 25, 2023 · 1 hr 18 min
BCC EP:93 From Oxford to Exmoor - panthers in the pastures
Steve our guest has spent half a lifetime investigating big cat reports in southern England – he takes us through key events in Oxfordshire in recent years, including the search for a puma body, the secrets of the Charlbury panther, and a big cat caught in a cage trap which then went missing. We learn about his time volunteering at a big cat sanctuary in Colorado, and hear how he links with his local police contacts. His own sightings include watching a black panther emerge with a friend, who just minutes earlier had mocked Steve’s interest in the topic. Word of the week: misidentification 25 March 2023
- BCMar 6, 2023 · 1 hr 10 min
BCC EP:92 The Outcasts - Beauty in the hidden beasts
Alex our guest has had several big cat encounters in South West England, one of which involved a black panther creeping up behind him. He reflects on these experiences in this episode. Rick and Alex also discuss the challenge of raising awareness of large predators while minimising the fear factor. We also hear about Alex’s most recent sightings in south Devon, and discuss the interesting results on his trail cameras. Word of the week: cryptic 6 March 2023
- BCFeb 12, 2023 · 1 hr 6 min
BCC EP:91 Scotland’s big cats – from theory to reality
A panther and cubs next to a fishing tent, gamekeepers’ attitudes to big cats, a large cat carcass by the A9, admissions of lynx releases, and recent dashcam footage from West Highlands – we hear of these and other snippets as Paul MacDonald updates us on recent big cat highlights from Scotland. We also hear some modern folklore, as The Black Beast of Bin, a poem from 1994, written following big cat sightings in the Huntly area of Aberdeenshire at the time, is sung specially for the podcast by Scottish folk singer Shona Donaldson. Words of the week: Origin stories 12 February 2023
- BCJan 24, 2023 · 1 hr 19 min
BCC EP:90 Tails from the Stroud valleys
Andy and Claire explain why they are committed to tracking and learning about big cats in the Stroud area of Gloucestershire – we hear about their findings so far, from tree scratches, potential big cat calls, scat, carcasses of potential prey, and tantalising trail camera shots. Words of the week: AI poetry 24 January 2023
- BCJan 8, 2023 · 56 min
BCC EP:89 The predator’s stare - when time stood still
Louise describes three different large cat encounters in Scotland, including meeting a lynx in her local woodland in Angus. As it noticed her, she felt vulnerable and time became fixed at that heart-stopping moment. 11 years later a friend and neighbour of Louise had an encounter near the same location, on the edge of town – showing that such predators can be closer than we think… Words of the week: A clowder of cats 8 January 2023
- BCDec 22, 2022 · 1 hr 20 min
BCC EP:88 Awakening the Snow Panther
Lewis describes being confronted by a black panther in the Chilterns area back in 2006, on the edge of the Prime Minister’s Chequers estate. Lewis was with three friends messing about in the snow by moonlight, when the panther emerged. Lewis describes events as they fled from the hill. Our second guest is the experienced investigator Paulo, who runs the Big Cats of the Chilterns FB page. He updates us on recent trends of sightings across the Chilterns area, and we finish with details of a fresh big cat incident very close to Paulo’s home in mid December 2022. Words of the week: call blasters & hunting decoys 22 December 2022
- BCDec 6, 2022 · 57 min
BCC EP:87 Ireland’s shocked stalker
We hear from Bernard, an experienced stalker in the south of Ireland. He watched two adult black panthers resting in a field one evening in October 2022, as he walked his dog. There seemed to be a third smaller cat with them. Bernard takes us through the incident and tries to make sense of the remarkable scene. We finish with news of the big cats poem & limerick competition. Words of the week: a destruction of cats 6 December 2022
- BCNov 22, 2022 · 1 hr 32 min
BCC EP:86 Cougar close encounters – from Canada to Devon
Rob explains his boyhood interest in the Exmoor Beast and roaming local woods for signs of big cats. Now living in British Canada, Rob encounters different wild animals on his regular mountain hikes. He describes his recent close observation of a dark coloured Canadian lynx, and his family’s confrontation with a growling stalking cougar. Rob explains why he carries protective bear spray and knives in his rucksack after seeing black bears close to his hiking trails, and he discusses how local people adapt to living alongside cougars and bears. Rob finishes by commenting on recent night-vision footage taken in Devon and available to view on the Big Cat Conversations website, Refs & Links page for episode 86. Word of the week: slesse 22 November 2022
- BCNov 3, 2022 · 1 hr 29 min
BCC EP:85 The policemen, the dog & the panthers - Warwickshire big cats recalled
Bob received big cat reports in the 1990s during his career with Warwickshire police – it became more real on duty one night when he saw a black panther himself. John our second guest also served with Warwickshire police - he investigated a crashed car incident one night in 2003 when his police dog Russ let him know there was something about, as a panther emerged on the scene… John discusses his experience working with dogs in the police and currently with Cornwall Search Dogs, and he and Rick consider how dogs could be deployed for tracking big cats. Words of the week: scat detection dogs 3 November 2022
- BCOct 13, 2022 · 1 hr 5 min
BCC EP:84 The wall-walker – filming a foraging panther
Don saw a black panther or leopard in Derbyshire in 1989 at a time when local farmers and police were reporting sightings of a big black cat in the Derbyshire press. Don retained his interest in the topic and brought a thermal camera in 2022 to film local wildlife and hopefully a big cat. Within a few weeks he noticed one of the blobs on his thermal footage was cat shaped, and larger than any foxes and badgers he had filmed. Seeing the shape again Don concluded he was indeed filming a large cat. It is judged to be around 109 cms from nose to rump. Don discusses the thermal footage on this episode. A selection of the video recordings and stills taken from the videos are on the Big Cat Conversations website, under ep 84 of the Refs & Links page. Word of the week: monopod 13 October 2022
- BCSep 28, 2022 · 1 hr 8 min
BCC EP:83 Big cat nature ramble – Cotswold hide outs
We join investigator Paul Ramsden for a visit to two big cat sighting spots in Gloucestershire. We look out along the edge of the Cotswold hills and then go deep into a hidden valley woodland. Paul explains how mammals including big cats would use the woodland and he considers prime places for trail cameras for filming any large cats. Rick describes past panther, puma and lynx reports in the area and Paul recounts his own past big cat sighting that happened in Dorset. Words of the week: a glaring of cats 28 September 2022