I told ya this was a wild and crazy town!
This story just shows how wild things really are! Maybe it's just that things have gotten so out of control in the "burbs, the wildlife has moved further downtown for reasons of safety!
Bobcat captured in downtown Houston garage
By MIKE GLENN
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
March 2, 2010, 5:04PM
Reports of a wild animal roaming about a downtown parking garage this morning did not initially raise much concern for officials at Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care.
“We thought that it was going to be a house cat,” said Chris Glaser, with BARC. “But, it did turn out to be a bobcat.“
The bobcat was spotted shortly after 10:45 a.m. inside the garage in the 500 block of Rusk near Smith.
Several people had seen the animal moving along the cars parked in the garage. Security officers blocked off the area as animal control workers moved in.
“It was trying to hide under the cars when we got there,” Glaser said. “It may have been asleep there overnight and woken up.”
BARC officials decided a tranquilizer dart would be the safest method to subdue the animal. The first dart was ineffective, so the dosage for a second was increased and officials were able to capture the dozing bobcat.
The bobcat was about 30 pounds and 3-feet long.
“It was a healthy male with a good muscle tone,” Glaser said “It seemed in fine condition.”
Bobcats are native to the Houston area and, even with urban growth, they have been spotted in the city.
“They do come up through the bayous. They have been found in various areas,” Glaser said.
A staff veterinarian checked the animal , which was later released into the wild at Brazos Bend State Park, BARC officials said.
“It's a nice area,” Glaser said. “There are a lot of bobcats in that area.”
Bet they don't have many street people sleeping in the parking garages in the downtown area! I know I wouldn't!
Now, how about some coffee on the patio? Of course, it may start raining, ya know?
17 comments:
Maybe they ought to tranq the street people and release them into the wild!
Hey Catman...
If they did that, what would the bobcats feed on? There must be some kind of major food source in the downtown area, for why else would the bobcats keep coming back?
Whatever it was finding for food...at 30 pounds and good muscles, it must have had plenty of it!
Hey, thanks for coming by today!
...and speaking of cats...how's old smokey? Is he laying low after his big adventure?
Have a grand day, Jim!!
We have a family of bobcats in my neighborhood - they are really quite beautiful to watch because of the muscle tone.
I've been told that bobcats are very territorial so I wonder about releasing them to another area, especially one already populated with bobcats, won't he come back?
Wow! I can't imagine seeing a bobcat wandering around the city! Nothing exciting like that happens in n'ern IL!! :)
Bubba -
Guess it just goes to show we're still part of the Wild, Wild West, with a whole lotta Southern thrown in!
And to Bellen - no, he probably won't come back - he's going back to the area where he probably came from anyway. We're pretty careful and considerate of our critters around here, even if we are in the heart of the big city.
Big hugs for you and the roomies, and pass one on to Mom, too, will ya?
Well, we are intruding on their territory, aren't we? One day the guy who mows my so-many-acres arrived to see one sleeping in the yard. And I heard one in the yard one night. Sounded like a woman screaming. Woke me up out of a sound sleep. Never got to see it, though. Guess one has to be careful no matter where one lives.
Eh, let it rain, I was here first.
We have the occasional coyote chorus here in Redneck Central, and plenty of deer and even a few fox..er...foxes?..but no bobcats that I know of. They're beautiful critters - I'm glad your animal control folks didn't just kill it for convenience.
Shade and Sweetwater,
K
Heard we have some in The Sunshine State. Have not seen any. Beautiful animal.
Glad they did not just kill it, would have been a waste. I to wonder what he was eating. Dumpster diving kitty?
See Ya
Het Cath...
Ol' Smokey is doing pretty good, thanks for asking! He doesn't wander far from home...and won't let me get too far from sight!
Maybe he learned his lesson...but you never know!
Thank you for coming by today!
Hey Bellen...
With cats, you just never know! I reckon that he will follow the food source and the other cats...going to where he can find cover and good hunting!
Thanks so much for coming by today!
Hey Gen...
You just can't ever tell what will happen next around here! I can only imagine what a shock it might have been for any tourist that were around!
I appreciate the visit this morning!
Hey Sis...
Never know what is going to pop up anymore! I knew it was wild...but just not how much so!
I sure am glad you could come over today!
Hey Momlady...
It's amaing just how much they can sound like a woman screaming, isn't it?
If you think that bobcats are loud...you shound hear a mountain lion! Now that's a sound that will turn your blood cold, believe me...especially if you are camping outside!
Nature's way of warning us to leep lightly, I think!
Thanks for the visit!
Hey K...
Momlady said she has one she has seen on her place! They are pretty good at staying out of sight most of the time!
Our animal control folks are usually pretty good about being humane...and have seen so many different kinds of critters, they are not surprised anymore, I think!
Hey, sure glad you could come by today!
Hey Tony...
I have no idea what he was eating...ut I hope it was something other than the Street people! Maybe he was feeding on the rats (four legged) and stray dogs...or the like!
They are indeed beautiful animals...!
I do appreciate you coming by6 today, buddy!
The Bobcats are just following the food alright, they love fat tender house cats and small dogs, plus the mouse and rat population in any city is a whole lot higher than in the country.
What could he be eating in the city? He was probably doing quite well. Most cities have a high rat population, and some like New York and San Francisco are actually over run with them. Not only bobcats, but coyotes, raccoons, and opossums live cheek by jowl with humans in most cities; living off garbage, rats, and the occasional domestic cat or dog. Many towns and cities have a higher population of wildlife than can be found in the open spaces surrounding them.
Hey Bob...
I think you're right about that! Definitely had a way to keep himself fed.
Mother Nature has a way to keep the minds of her creatures full enough with ways to find food! Now, if we could only learn from the wild ones, we might just be better off!
I do appreciate the visit today, my friend!
Hey Bob Mc...
You know, maybe we should put a bunch of bobcats on the city payroll and let them continue to clean uparound the city!
Couldn't do any worse than some of the people I see working for the county and city right now...and would be cheaper by far!
Hey,Thanks for coming by today!
Cool that they released him in BBSP. Hope a gator doesn't get him! :-)
About a half hour after I posted, our neighborhood bobcat walked by, not 3 feet away from our lanai. I dashed out to watch - he went across the empty (of anything) lot next door to the next lot that is covered with palmettos, etc, turned back to look at me, then very gracefully leaped over the shrubbery about 6 feet high and deep and disappeared.
We've watched his schedule and he should be back in about 3 days. We are grateful no one bothers him.
Guess I better be careful cleaning up 'round momlady's, eh Uncle? HA!
I recall spotting a beautiful Hawk glide just over Nanny's house-- right there in the 'burbs, all industrial and all... the bayou behind was an obvious blessing-- for ther bird!
Glad Smokey is back safe & sound; I'm not behind times, just getting news vicariously.
Slainte, Uncle!
C.
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