Rabid bobcat attacks 4 in northern Arizona city, wildlife officials put animal down
Jan 17, 2017, 10:40 AM | Updated: 7:05 pm
(AP File Photo)
(AP File Photo)
PHOENIX — A rabid bobcat that attacked a handful of people in the Sedona area last week had to be killed by wildlife officials.
Arizona Game and Fish told the Prescott Courier the animal had bitten or scratched four people Thursday, including three workers at Los Abrigados Resort and Spa.
The attacks were less than 3 miles apart off State Route 179.
A man told authorities he heard strange noises coming from underneath his parked truck and bent down to look.
The bobcat bit and scratched the man’s arms, then injured the man’s dog before running off around 8:30 a.m.
By mid-afternoon, after attacking and hurting a house cat, the bobcat had made its way to the Oak Creek-side resort, where it scratched three employees before again running off.
The bobcat ran into a nearby storm wash. Game and Fish officers attempted to capture the animal, but it was too aggressive, and they shot and killed the bobcat with a pistol.
Test results later confirmed the bobcat had rabies.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
