Quinnipiac University Issues Warning Of Possible Bobcat Sighting

HAMDEN, CT — Quinnipiac University, home of the Bobcats, issued an emergency alert to the university community Sunday about a possible sighting of an actual bobcat near campus.

John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations, said the alert went out at 10:44 p.m. Sunday.

“It’s important to note that the possible sighting was not on campus,” Morgan said. “It was in a nearby residential area, where many students live in Quinnipiac-owned homes.”

University officials have not been able to confirm that the animal was actually a bobcat, according to Morgan.

“Quinnipiac is committed to the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and visitors,” Morgan said, via an email on Monday. “The emergency notification was issued as a precautionary measure to alert the campus community and encourage individuals to exercise caution.”

Bobcats are seen regularly throughout Connecticut, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which has a website where residents can report sightings and see a map where ones have been spotted recently.

According to the agency, bobcats’ diet primarily consists of animals like rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, deer and birds, though they can pose a danger to unsupervised domestic animals, such as small livestock and poultry. Bobcat attacks on humans are “extremely rare,” according to DEEP.