Wrentham police warn residents with small pets of bobcat sighting

WRENTHAM, Mass. -- Wrentham police are warning residents with small pets about a bobcat spotted in a homeowner's yard last weekend.

Mika Verna was throwing a baby shower for her daughter at her home on Warner Trail Road Saturday, when a guest saw the animal through the window.

"It was kind of scary," Verna said. "One of the girls kind of screamed, ‘Oh my God, there’s a bobcat on the lawn!’ And everybody went to look out the window and were snapping pictures of the bobcat."

The animal lay in the sun in Verna's yard long enough for guests to take several pictures before chasing around a squirrel and disappearing in the woods behind Verna's home.

Wrentham police shared one of their photos on Facebook, urging residents with cats and small dogs to take caution, but reassuring the community bobcats do not pose a threat to humans unless the animal is rabid.

Although bobcats are known to live in the town, particularly in wooded areas, the police department's Facebook post was shared hundreds of times and got the community talking.

"The feedback from the community is overwhelming any time there’s an animal involved," McGrath said. "There’s no great panic going on. This is about people taking caution if you do have cats, a very small dog. (They) might be vulnerable if you’re letting them wander around the yard."

McGrath encouraged residents to simply admire the animals from a distance and only call police if the bobcat appears unusually aggressive.

"Don’t be afraid of them," McGrath said. "Give them their space and enjoy. That’s what the police are going to do, and that’s about all we’re going to do."

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