New Bobcat Spotted Prowling In Wayland

WAYLAND, MA — There's a new bobcat in town. Or maybe two.

Wayland residents this week reported seeing a bobcat in various places across town, with sightings concentrated around the Stop & Shop plaza near the intersection of Route 20 and Route 27.

Monday night, the big cat was seen near Joint Ventures Physical Therapy adjacent to the Stop & Shop, resident Kara Cooney Britton reported via Facebook. Britton also reported seeing a smaller bobcat two miles north along Glezen Lane.

On Tuesday, resident Kenneth Kolpan shared a photo of the cat taken near Lilian Street in the River Trail Place development — not far from Joint Ventures.

There was a bobcat sighting reported in Wayland this winter. A bobcat was seen walking in the yard of a home along Hazelbrook Road in late January, according to Wayland police.

Neither animal control nor acting Chief Sean Gibbons could be immediately be reached for comment about this week's sightings.

Bobcats are the biggest wild cat in Massachusetts. They are more common in western and central Massachusetts, but have been seen in backyards from Worcester to Ashland and Natick. If you want to learn more about the predator and what they're up to, visit the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife's bobcat page.