GRUNDY COUNTY, Iowa (KCCI) – Residents in Conrad have seen a new furry visitor recently.
A bobcat turned up Sunday at Dreamland Playground, and photographer Ben Neff shared his images online.
The bobcat, who Neff nicknamed “Comet,” was seen around the playground and hiding from the camera.
The sighting is rare for the area, Grundy County Conservation Board Executive Director Nick Buseman told KCCI.
He says you can identify if a bobcat has been through the area by its tracks — the round prints are slightly larger than a 50-cent coin and don’t show claw marks.
The Iowa DNR says bobcat sightings are becoming more common as the population has grown over the last 20 years, what the DNR is generally considering as a “wildlife success story.”
“While not common in winter, this bobcat is likely just hunting for rodents or small birds for its next meal,” Iowa DNR Furbearer Biologist Vince Evelsizer shared. “We are seeing more bobcats in urban settings throughout Iowa than ever before. Fortunately, bobcats don’t typically cause conflicts with human safety or pets, but it’s always good to keep a closer eye on small dogs and house cats when they’re outside.”
The DNR stressed that residents shouldn’t feed or leave food out for bobcats.
You may also see more bobcats as they search for mates during breeding season in February and March.
Bobcats tend to avoid humans. The DNR can assist if you believe a bobcat is acting aggressively.
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