The sighting this month was reported to wildlife monitoring group Puma Watch, which collects accounts of unusual animal activity across the region.
Anyone who believes they’ve seen something similar can report a sighting to Puma Watch.
Sharon, who shared the account on behalf of her sister, said the encounter happened at around 9.45am on 15 May. Her sister had just dropped her granddaughter at nursery and was walking home through the estate when she noticed the animal.
“She saw a large but thin panther‑like creature going into overgrown bushes,” Sharon said. “It was black but she could see leopard‑like patterns. It had a typical panther‑like gait and a large, noticeable upturned tail. She was too frightened to investigate further.”
While the witness described the creature as resembling a panther, there is no confirmation of what the animal was, and experts say many reported sightings turn out to be dogs, domestic cats seen at a distance, or other wildlife appearing larger in certain lighting or terrain.
Ellesmere Port has nevertheless become a regular location for mystery‑animal reports.
Previous accounts include a close‑up sighting in Whitby Park, a “large but slender” black creature at Ince Marshes, and several reports stretching along the Chester and Wirral corridor. The mix of woodland, marshland and quiet footpaths around the town provides plenty of cover for wildlife, making misidentifications more likely.
Stanney Woods, an ancient oak and silver birch woodland just off the A5117 and close to the Stanney estate, is often mentioned in local discussions about unusual sightings. Its dense undergrowth and limited disturbance make it a natural corridor for foxes, deer and other animals that can appear larger when partially obscured.
Some theories about mystery‑animal sightings in the UK stem from the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, which required licences for keeping exotic pets. It has long been suggested that a small number of owners may have released animals rather than comply, though no conclusive evidence has ever proved a breeding population of big cats in Britain.
For now, the Ellesmere Port sighting remains unverified, with residents encouraged to report anything unusual so patterns can be better understood.
What do you think it was? Let us know in the comments.