Bobcat Spotted Near City Hill Middle School

A resident who lives in the Ruela Street area of Naugatuck spotted a bobcat in the woods behind house on Wednesday.

In a post on the Naugatuck Patch Facebook page, warning area residents to keep an eye on their pets, Diane Budzilek Smith said her husband saw a bobcat eyeing their golden retrievers. As a point of reference, Ruela Street is near City Hill Middle School.

In response, Kelly Ruggerio Dilley said she saw one last week in her yard at work on Great Hill Road, right behind Beacon Valley Animal Hospital. "He was big and just hanging around in the sun," she wrote.

It's not surprising that bobcats are around, but they are rarely seen, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Bobcat attacks on humans are virtually unknown, but they have been known to go after smaller animals, including rabbits, fowl and cats, the DEEP reports.

"Bobcats are most active just after dusk and before dawn. They are secretive, solitary and seldom observed, tending to hunt and travel in areas of thick cover. Bobcats rely on their keen eyesight and hearing for locating enemies and prey. They are very patient and ambush their prey. Their sense of smell is not acute," the DEEP's fact sheet on Bobcats explains.

"Compared to many wildlife species, bobcats rarely cause conflicts with human activities. Infrequently, they kill livestock, especially fowl, and attack domestic cats," the DEEP says.

Read the complete Fact Sheet on the DEEP's website.