Puma sighting reported near Worcester before Christmas, dead deer found in nearby Blakedown and Chaddesley Corbett.
The man described it on a Facebook group where people share big cat information. They discuss paw prints or animal remains, and people often call the cats pumas or panthers.
The witness thought it was a dog at first, as he used to think sightings were fake. He noticed its distinct tail as it walked close.
He started walking away calmly to avoid blocking its path. It jumped into the woods about 25 meters away, and he felt vulnerable hearing it move nearby.
He hurried home feeling shaken and thought about it a lot. He is sure of what he saw, even though he always doubted such stories before.
He had a clear view of the animal’s size but regretted not taking a picture. He was too scared to stop.
Someone shared a photo of a dead deer found in Blakedown near Kidderminster. The person had never seen anything like it, as the animal was mostly eaten.
Another person took pictures of dead deer in Chaddesley Corbett. One deer was hidden under a tree, suggesting something returned to eat it later.
Mandy Acres, who founded the big cat group, said other animals could cause the deaths. Foxes, badgers, or even humans are possible culprits. Not every dead animal is from a big cat, although she acknowledges big cats exist and could be the cause.