Courtesy photo/Julius Bruggeman. A bobcat like this one was reportedly seen earlier this month on the beachside in New Smyrna Beach.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Some residents like Stan Kapp say they are nervous about walking at nights because of wild bobcats; while others are concerned these felines might get into their houses, which are not very far from the cats.
The bobcats have been seen prowling an empty piece of property off of A!A, across the street from the neighboring high-rises, which are full of people. Kapp said some of the people who spotted them were amazed by the size of the bobcats.
Gary and Flory Schoenberger told Local 6 TV of Orlando they were amazed at the size of the bobcat they saw, though they had never seen one before that.
“I think it’s very scary -- beautiful, but scary,” Flory Schoenberger told a reporter there. “I thought, 'We’re walking with bobcats.' OK.’”
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission called by Local 6 said that bobcats are all over the state and have been known to migrate to the beach. The officer said that bobcats will go after pets. They rarely grow larger than 3 feet in size and weigh up to 30 pounds. They have very sharp claws and teeth.
Bobcats are a protected species. The FWC will not remove them unless they are causing a nuisance or exhibit signs of rabies.