In recent weeks there has been speculation that some fearsome animals have been spotted in strange places – from crocodiles near Scarborough to a big cat in the Peak District.
While many will point out that the crocodiles look suspiciously like logs, and that the ‘big cat’ could well be just a well-fed moggie, some similar sightings have been verified over the years.
This has been the case in Scotland, where there have been many odd reports of unusual creatures stalking the moors, lochs and mountains.
Many have been proven to be a hoax, while some of the most famous remain unproven to date.
Here are 10 weird animal sightings made in Scotland – from the genuine to the ridiculous.
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9. Slow: Wolves on the motorway
In 2021 puzzled police officers received more than 270 reports of a wolf on the A89, near Bathgate. The grey wolf used to be resident in Scottish woodland, but has been extinct in the country for centuries, making it unlikely that one would be wandering in and out of traffic on a busy road. The mystery was solved when the animal was tracked down and found to be a domesticated white fox that had escaped from its owners. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
10. The Beast of Galashielsages
There have reportedly been over 850 sightings of big cats across Scotland - from the Highlands to the Borders. One of the most memorable reports was in 2015 when dog walker (it's always a dog walker) Sarah-Kaye Hook spotted a "large black creature much bigger than a labrador" on Gala Hill on the outskirts of Galashiels. Six years earlier local councillor Gavin Logan saw what he identified as a "panther-like cat" at the edge of nearby Yair Forest. Other sightings, and a spate of missing cats, caused residents to think that a predator was on the loose but the sightings soon stopped, leading some to think the animal had died or moved away. Photo: Canva/Getty Images