Pedicure, perhaps?
Photo courtesy of Brittany Ott This juvenile bobcat hunted squirrels on the property of Midtown Salon at 1928 N. Fourth St. in Coeur d’Alene early Thursday, where salon owner Brittany Ott was able to snap a few photos. Officials say small bobcats like this aren’t a threat and should just be left alone. “It just wants to eat little rodents and get fat for the winter,” Ott said.
A small, young bobcat visited Midtown Salon in Coeur d'Alene early Thursday, where it hunted squirrels and remained on the property for a few hours. Fish and Game officials don't apply any significance to this visit even though Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls have experienced about four bobcat sightings in the past month or so. (Photo courtesy of Brittany Ott)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — A juvenile bobcat was spotted hunting squirrels Thursday on the property of Midtown Salon in Coeur d'Alene.
Salon owner Brittany Ott took a few photos from inside the building, but she was only a couple feet away as she watched it go about its bobcat business. She posted the photos on social media with the caption, "A pretty little visitor at the salon this morning."
The small bobcat remained on the salon property at 1928 N. Fourth St. for a few hours.
"Thankfully, I know this animal is harmless to people and wants nothing to do with us," Ott told The Press. "It just wants to eat little rodents and get fat for the winter. It's just like any feral cat; it's not going to bug anybody."
Ott said that as someone who grew up in North Idaho, she has respect for these animals.
"It's not bothering anybody here," she said. "She's maybe a little bigger than our cat at home. The squirrel was half her size."
Craig Walker, a regional enforcement officer with Idaho Fish and Game, had heard about this bobcat. He said that even though Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls have had three or four bobcat sightings in the past month, he doesn't apply any significance to this one.
"We live where wild animals live," he said. "The only time I really start getting concerned is if we have a wild animal that simply won't go away. That's not normal behavior. I'm talking about coyotes, bobcats. If they're being seen occasionally, that's pretty common. If we're seeing larger animals in the same area, that can be of concern."
Coeur d'Alene Police Capt. Dave Hagar said bobcats in city limits haven't been an issue and they're not really a threat, based on their size.
"I think there's more in town than we’ll ever know," he said. "You don't want to get close to it. If it seems to be causing a problem, pets being taken, then we would work with Fish and Game."
It's best to leave the animal alone and let it go on its way. If an animal like a bobcat is injured or becomes aggressive, the Fish and Game Panhandle Regional office can be reached at 208-769-1414.
"Most wildlife has no desire to interact with us,” Walker said. “Some animals, especially like coyotes, get really well adjusted to living close to people. That doesn't mean they want to hang out with people.
"We live with wildlife. That's one of the main reasons many of us live where we do."