Rare bobcat sighting prompts caution in Burke County neighborhood

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — A wildlife camera captured an adult bobcat roaming early Tuesday morning outside a home in the Woodland Hills neighborhood west of Hickory.

Channel 9’s Dave Faherty spoke with neighbors who now are taking precautions with their pets.

State wildlife biologists said sightings such as this are very rare and are encouraging folks here not to leave pet food outside.

“You rarely see them,” said Brad Howard, with N.C. Wildlife Resources. “They tend to not be a problem. They are not particularly threats to our pets, in general, as long as we supervise our pets as we always should.”

Resident Meg Lave showed Faherty where the bobcat was spotted outside her home.

The bobcat came up some stairs and then walked in front of the camera, feet from the home.

“I haven’t had coffee yet so I was a little stunned,” Lave said. “I wasn’t so sure what it was at first because to me, bobcats looked kind of squattier and have beards but according to Google, it was definitely a bobcat,” she said.

Wildlife experts said it was an adult bobcat because it had spotting and its tail.

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They said the predators range in weight from 10 to 40 pounds but are reclusive and attacks on pets are extremely rare.

Sean Harvell, who has children, dogs, and cats, lives across the street from where the bobcat was spotted and plans on taking precautions around his home.

“(It) kind of makes you think twice about just letting your dogs or children out because there’s no telling it could come out of the woods at any time,” Harvell said.

Bobcats are native to North Carolina and their population has rebounded in recent decades.

“I love wildlife,” Lave said. “I know they’re out here. “(I) was glad I caught it to just to see him.”

Wildlife experts said squirrels or birds could attract them to hunt in the neighborhood.

The one seen in Woodland Hills didn’t stay long and hasn’t been seen since.

VIDEO: Homeowners on lookout after 2 reports of bobcats in Burke, Caldwell counties

Homeowners on lookout after 2 reports of bobcats in Burke, Caldwell counties

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