The Washington County Sheriff's Office warned Bethany residents Monday, Sept. 28, after a large cat believed to be a bobcat was spotted near Northwest Kaiser Road and Northwest Springville Road.
The animal has not been found.
The agency notified the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the Oregon State Police, KATU reported. A positive identification has not been made, but the sheriff's office said the animal is believed to be a bobcat.
No people or pets have been harmed, and no additional sightings had been reported as of Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 29, according to the Beaverton Valley Times.
Bethany neighbor Tom Humphrey told KPTV he spotted the cat near the intersection. "He was calm, he was walking away, he wasn't crouching or anything," Humphrey said.
The sheriff's office shared a neighbor's video of the animal on social media Monday afternoon.
In a release, the sheriff's office said no one has reported being harmed and that wildlife sightings in unincorporated Washington County are not uncommon. The agency advised residents to take several precautions:
- Fence and shelter livestock. Secure coops, sheds and barns.
- Feed pets inside and keep them inside at night.
- Leash animals when walking in wild areas.
- Do not feed wildlife.
- Keep bird feeders clean, because bobcats prey on birds and small mammals.
ODFW also recommended supervising young children outdoors and bringing pet food inside.
According to ODFW, a bobcat is about twice the size of a domestic house cat, with longer legs, a shorter tail and a more muscular build. The bobcat is the smallest wild cat species in Oregon and occurs statewide, inhabiting all areas except intensively cultivated land and high altitudes.
Residents who spot the animal can contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office or ODFW. More information about living near bobcats is available on ODFW's website.
