On Tuesday, 8-16-16 a resident of Southwick Road in the area of Barberry Road reported seeing what they believed was a bobcat walking along the side of the roadway heading towards Park Street.
The cat was described as brown, much bigger than the size of a house cat, with pointed white tipped ears.
According to the Mass.gov website; “The only wild cat now found in Massachusetts, the bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a medium sized feline approximately twice the size of a domestic house cat.
The bobcat can be easily identified by its short, “bobbed” tail (3.5-7.5 inches), prominent face ruff, and slightly tufted ears. The coat of short, dense fur can vary in color from a yellowish to reddish brown with distinct or faint black spots along its flanks and white under parts that are also spotted with black. In summer, their fur tends to be shorter and more reddish in color becoming longer and much paler in the winter although there can be much variation in color among individual animals.
Adult bobcats weigh between 15 and 35 pounds and measure 28-47 inches in overall length. Size varies depending on sex with male bobcats being approximately 33% larger than their female counterparts.”
An Officer responded to the scene but was unable to locate the animal. North Reading Animal Control was also notified of the possible sighting.
According to eHow.com, “Bobcats are shy animals and will not normally pose a risk to humans unless they are sick. Bobcats with rabies tend to have erratic behavior, be lethargic and/or foam at the mouth. Anyone who sees a bobcat behaving strangely should contact [the police or] local animal control department.
Although most bobcats tend to avoid humans, they have been known to prey on unattended pets, birds, small livestock, rabbits and rodents. Keep small pets inside, and keep domestic birds in enclosed cages.”
If spotted, contact NRPD at (978)-664-3131 or N.R. Animal Control at (978)-664-3807.