Community Corner
African Serval Cat On The Loose In Illinois, Agencies On The Hunt
A serval has been spotted in Decatur and while officials don't expect the cat to attack, they are asking residents to avoid contact with it.
DECATUR, IL — A cat native to Africa has been spotted outside of Decatur, and county animal control officials are asking area residents to be on the lookout while they attempt to corral the feline.
Macon County Animal Control officials said in a Facebook post this week that they are aware that a serval cat is loose on the northeast side of Decatur. A serval, which is described as a medium-sized cat that is native to Saharan countries, was spotted in the area this week. County officials are working with exotic animal specialists to try to capture the cat.
Animal control issues do not anticipate the cat hurting anyone, as servals are not considered dangerous. But officials said that as with any wild animal, it could be dangerous "under the right circumstances."
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Officials are asking residents not to interact with the cat if they encounter it. Instead, anyone who spots the serval should contact the agency at (217) 425-4508 Ext 4 to report any sightings of the cat.
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