"We would hear of sightings in all arts and parts from time to time," said USPCA spokesman David Wilson last night.

"We always go to the police and make them aware of what we have been told, however we have not had a report from the Ballymoney area recently."

MAULING
The most recent mauling of sheep occurred on Thursday on the outskirts of Ballymoney.


Mr Wilson said it was probably not possible to tell the difference between sheep mauled by a dog or by a big cat.


The five sheep were understood to have suffered horrendous injuries, having had their ribcages and chunks of flesh torn out.


Rumours have been circulating that The Beast of Ballybogey has been behind the spate of recent attacks, but Ballymoney Borough Council has put the blame on dogs.

ATTACK
"In my opinion this is the work of a dog or dogs," a spokesman said.
"It looks like the attack on the five sheep was carried out by quite a large breed as the ewes were quite large."


Thursday's incident occurred on the Bann Road while the other three attacks took place in the Bendooragh area of the borough.


In 2003 PSNI marksmen and a helicopter were drafted in after several witnesses claimed to have seen what appeared to be a black panther in the borough.


But the council spokesman said the incidents were reports of sheep worrying. She said the dogs involved would have returned home covered in blood and appealed for owners to keep their pets under control.


But the USPCA did not rule out the possibility of big cats. "We think it is possible there are big cats out there," said Mr Wilson.