r/OregonStateUniv • u/BetaSpydog • 2d ago
Bobcat roaming town
Heads up that a bobcat was just (3:52 am Sunday) spotted near the community center. I heard the sound of it attacking some animal, and then watched it cross the street.
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u/bibblebabble1234 1d ago
Bobcats are usually very wary of humans but oh my goodness are they amazing creatures!
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u/the-girlinthe-dress 1d ago
There’s a few bobcats that live in the forest next to my apartment. They’re around. Same with coyotes
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u/cynefin- 1d ago
Awesome! As a student who lives outside the US, I'd love to see one (and pet it in my heart).
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u/Dependent_House_3774 2d ago
Hopefully Public Safety was notified!
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u/Traditional-Load8228 2d ago
No one will do anything about a bobcat. They live all over. They’re safe unless you’re a bunny.
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u/Dependent_House_3774 1d ago
Typically they will at least warn students and locals. Not everyone is from here and knows just what a bobcat is.
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u/IndicaPDX 1d ago
If only there was a device we carried around with us 24/7 that you could ask a question and it would give you the answer.
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u/Dependent_House_3774 1d ago
Yeah, because the smart thing to do when you see a predator is to pull out your phone to identify it.
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u/IndicaPDX 1d ago
I was referring to, not knowing what a bobcat is. Ah yes, the deadly predator of squirrels.
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u/Dependent_House_3774 1d ago
Yeah, but if people don't report sightings, the news about the bobcat being near isn't spread, people aren't made aware and therefore aren't curious about what a bobcat is and don't look into it.
But those squirrels, you think you know em, then BAM, they run out in front of a bus. Truly the apex predator of Corvallis.
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u/Traditional-Load8228 1d ago
Typically they won’t warn you about an animal that’s not a threat though. We have a bobcat that lives in the woods behind our house and no one has ever issued any sort of warning. If there was a cougar they might. But when you live in places where there is wildlife no one is going to warn you that wildlife is around unless there’s a threat or they need people to make changes like stop putting garbage out early.
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u/Dependent_House_3774 20h ago
I disagree. It may depend on location, but I know for many years Good Samaritan posted warnings about cougar and bobcat sightings, same thing with Chip Ross park.
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u/TheFeenyCall 17h ago
Have you seen a bobcat? They are not big
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u/Traditional-Load8228 16h ago
The one in our neighborhood is quite large actually. People confuse him with a cougar.
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u/TheFeenyCall 15h ago
Bobcats weigh like 30 ish pounds. Most cougars weigh like well over 100lbs. Pretty hard to confuse
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u/Traditional-Load8228 15h ago
I’m telling you. This one in our neighborhood is big. Not 100 pounds big. But definitely more than 30. And when people are startled by a wild animal in the dark it’s hard to assess. But ours is well known in the area and everyone remarks about her size.
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u/Traditional-Load8228 15h ago
Also I think most people haven’t actually seen a cougar but are more familiar with the idea of a cougar than a bobcat so they see a big cat and immediately think cougar.
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u/Dependent_House_3774 5h ago
Doesn't have to be big to cause harm. That and some people keep small pets like rabbits, small dogs and chickens, all of which could be prey to a bobcat. Also, Rabies.
Big or not, there is safety in knowledge!
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u/Sufficient-Wolf-1818 2d ago
Cool! You are so lucky to see it.