GREENFIELD - A recent bobcat sighting in a Greenfield neighbourhood is not causing alarm.
"When you live in the country you expect wildlife on your doorstep," said Scott Avenue resident Cindie Smith. A neighbour first spotted the bobcat last Monday afternoon in Smith's front yard.
"We thought it was a fat house cat with no tail ... I have never heard of any (up-close) sightings like this since I was a little girl," said Smith.
She doesn't have young children or
pets, but is glad to be aware of wildlife in her neighbourhood.
"It's no big threat but it's good to let people know and exercise some caution, without causing fear," said Smith.
Sylvia Jay, Smith's neighbour, said her husband spotted the bobcat on top of a stone wall that is about waist high.
Jay said the animal was also been spotted in the neighbourhood, crossing the road, a few days later.
"It was on the road and then just moved on. It didn't cause any problems and just kept to itself," said Jay, adding she would hate for someone to think the animal was a threat and hunt it down.
She said there aren't many young children in the area and most pets are kept close watch over in the neighbourhood.
Russell MacKinlay, an area supervisor with the Department of Natural Resources in Bible Hill, said he hasn't had reports of bobcat sightings in the area.
"It's fairly uncommon to see one (up close) ... I would never say never, though. In the last few years I've only heard of a few calls," regarding bobcats in the local area, said MacKinlay.
He said the animal tends not to be aggressive around humans and at this time of the year any sightings could be because the "fairly timid and shy" animal is looking for food.
"It's the harsh part of winter and it could be suffering from starvation. My advice would be not to leave food out and keep a watch on pets. Treat any wild animal with respect and leave it alone."
mchiasson@trurodaily.com
Neighbours not alarmed by bobcat sighting
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Comments
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- Resident
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:40:02
I have had coyotes in my back yard, deer on my doorstep, and...I too have seen bobcats in the area over the last 5 years. I agree with Jon, admire them and leave them alone. The fact that they are this close is partially due to the fact that humans are destroying their habitat. Where else are they suppose to go?
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- Ruby
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:40:00
We have seen a wild aCat and coyttes on the Court House Branch Road and I had 2 cyottes around my mail box in Murraysiding saturday night and I think they killed to tame ducks in the brook here.They also roam around the trailer here.They near as big as a German shepard.
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- Gilliad
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:31
What a pleasure to see so many people coming to the defence of wild life, in this case, the Greenfield bobcat.
We sometimes forget that this is THEIR land, not ours. We're the interlopers who are ravaging their natural home territory.
The only bobcat I've seen outside of a compound was 20 years ago way up in northern Ontario. It was quite amazing to see him - or it might have been her - keeping pace with our bus as we roared down a highway through his/her homeland. Obviously, I've never forgotten the experience. -
- Jon
- - March 1st, 2010 at 14:39:28
Oh please don't start with the bobcats! They are absolutely harmless.
Here's a shocker for you: I was up behind Victoria Park just a couple of weeks ago walking my dog and wouldn't you know it, a bobcat came out of the bush not 10 feet from us and scurried across the walking path. Scared? I think not - I tried to spot it through the trees for a picture, but that thing was gone like lightning.
These are beautiful animals and they are everywhere, if only unseen - please don't bother them or cause anymore completely unnecessary alarm!
They are close by - bank on it.
