A Washington homeowner who dialed 911 after hearing unexplained banging inside the house thought a burglar might be breaking in. Instead, officers found a very different kind of intruder: a bobcat sitting at the top of the stairs.
The strange call played out last week in Kirkland’s Moss Bay neighborhood, where police responded to the home and eventually managed to contain the wild cat. Wildlife officials later released the bobcat back into its natural habitat.
The Kirkland Police Department said the homeowner, responding officers and the bobcat all escaped the encounter without injury.
According to police, the resident reported hearing loud banging inside the home and called authorities about a possible burglary. When officers arrived, they quickly realized the suspected “cat burglar” was, in fact, a bobcat inside the residence.
To keep everyone safe, authorities used a drone to track the bobcat’s movements through the home, giving officers room to observe the animal from a safe distance while they coordinated their response.
Video released by Kirkland police shows the bobcat growling while perched at the top of the staircase.
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The unexpected house guest was safely corralled into an isolated room until the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife arrived.
After being sedated, the bobcat was later released near Forbes Creek, close to the natural habitat where it was found, police said.
Police believe the bobcat climbed a tree and jumped through an open window, possibly after being drawn inside by the homeowner’s cat.
The resident’s cat was later found unharmed.
Officials warned residents never to approach or feed a bobcat and to give the animal plenty of space if encountered.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also recommends that residents keep pets indoors, especially between dusk and dawn, and secure small livestock and poultry.