Bobcat caught, relocated in Dunlap
On Friday, the Dunlap, Tenn., police and Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency responded to a call they don’t get too often.
A bobcat was found in an outbuilding on Williams Road. Police Chief Clint Huth said they didn’t check if the feline was a male or female, but it was about a year old.
The bobcat appeared to be healthy, and after being caught, was relocated to a secluded area in the south end of Sequatchie County.
Bobcats are seldom seen by humans, according to the TWRA website. But they do still pose a threat when encountered.
The last time a bobcat made Tennessee headlines was in September, 2017. The TWRA issued a warning to not pick up injured or what appears to be an orphaned wild animal after a wellmeaning woman picked up an injured bobcat and took it home.
She intended to takethe animal to a licensed rehabilitator the next day.
But during the night, the bobcat recovered and “became unmanageable” in the woman’s laundry room.
TWRA officers were called to the home to remove the bobcat. They examined the feline and determined it was healthy, so it was released back into the wild.
In a comment on the Dunlap Police Department’s post about the bobcat relocation, a woman claimed her dog — a great Pyrenees — was attacked by a bobcat three years ago and almost died.
“ICU for. [sic] Weeks, not a fan of these cats,” Tiffany Hixon wrote in the comment.
Nevertheless, bobcats rarely cause any conflicts with humans, according to the TWRA. They’re usually most active just after dark and before dawn, and they’re typically quiet animals, becoming more vocal during breeding season.