Man Gets Into Physical Altercation With A Bobcat

On February 11, Paul Broadhurst of East Orlando, Florida, was walking his daughter’s dog, Koda, when he encountered a bobcat.

Broadhurst told Fox 32 Orlando that the bobcat pounced, and he ended up having to punch the animal in the face to get it off of him. He was left with scratches, but Koda was unharmed.

“The bobcat, he clawed into me pretty good, and I end up having to punch the bobcat in the mouth to get it off of me,” Broadhurst said.

“He was walking down the sidewalk that bobcat was just over the top of him. He no sooner got there, and I ripped him off.”

“This is a very high-traffic area,” Broadhurst explained. “People walk their dogs, and have their kids, there are small kids in area 1-, 2-, 3-year-olds and if the bobcat got on them, it would be a bad outcome.”

The incident occurred in the Stoneybrook neighborhood, which is near a conservation area. Environmental Education Awareness Research Support’s Frank Robb suggested that people walking their pets should carry an object like a walking stick that they can put between their pets and any animal that is rabid or looking for food.

“When homes get built these wild areas are being taken away, you’re going to see more conflict like this with wildlife,” Robb said. “Be aware of your surroundings and know where you live.”

In another incident, an 85-year-old woman was attacked by an alligator while walking her dog near a pond in a golf course community in St. Lucie County, Florida. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office deputies were sent to the area for what they called an “alligator bite incident” following 911 calls.

Firefighters recovered the woman’s body from the scene. Residents told WPTV that the woman was walking her dog when the alligator grabbed it. She tried to get the dog away from the reptile but somehow fell victim to the gator.

The contracted nuisance alligator trapper captured the alligator involved in the incident and the dog survived the incident. Sheriff Ken Mascara said the incident was a heartbreaking tragedy and that prayers go out to the loved ones of the victim and the Spanish Lakes residents who witnessed the attack.

In both incidents, wildlife officials are warning people to be aware of their surroundings and know where they live. They also suggest carrying an object like a walking stick that they can put between their pets and any animal that is rabid or looking for food.


New York Post | USA Today

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