Action News Now reporter Jerry Olenyn speaks with a man who lives in the California Park neighborhood in Chico that captured a bobcat wandering around his backyard on multiple occasions.
CHICO, Calif. — A bobcat has been spotted wandering through a Chico neighborhood, sparking fascination among homeowners and prompting reminders to keep an eye on pets.
The big cat was caught on video as recently as Friday morning by Ronnie Zurita, who set up a backyard camera at his Cal Park home about two months ago.
“I’ve seen skunks and possums and turtles come up,” Zurita said. “Just a couple of days ago I looked at the camera and I saw what I thought was a cat, but I looked at it and said, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s a bobcat.’ I didn’t think there were bobcats around in California Park. So I was shocked.”
Zurita, who has lived in Cal Park for 15 years, quickly alerted neighbors. It didn’t take long for others to confirm they’d also seen the animal.
Jack Maurer, who lives across the street, said he spotted a bobcat near his property Thursday night.
“I saw one on our waterfall last night jumping over it,” Maurer said. “It could’ve been the same one.”
So far, the bobcat hasn’t caused problems, but Zurita said he is keeping a closer eye on his pets.
“We do come out with them when we let them out at night, but now I come out to check the backyard first just to make sure there’s no bobcat,” he said.
While bobcat sightings aren’t unusual in Butte County, they are rare in the Cal Park area. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife notes bobcats are naturally wary of people and pose little threat to public safety. Still, officials recommend residents supervise pets outdoors, especially at night.
For now, neighbors say they’ll be watching closely — and keeping their cameras ready.