Flagler residents meet to discuss bobcat threat

FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Florida Fish and Wildlife officials spoke at a community meeting in Flagler Beach Monday amid concerns that bobcats are killing local pets. 

People who live in the area between 16th Street and 27th Street off Daytona Avenue say they believe at least one bobcat has been on the prowl in the neighborhood.

“He has no fear. He just sits there and looks at you,” Fredda Levenson said about her encounter with a bobcat.  

Linda Roy says she thinks the wild animal went after her neighbor’s cat. 

“All of a sudden we heard he started to meow and cry so we went to look and he was gone but there was blood in the window sill,” Roy explained.

Roy says she’s also missing one of her own cats. 

Community members say in all, around 24 cats have gone missing or been found mauled to death. 
Monday, FWC offered its expertise to a packed room. A biologist presented on how to keep bobcats away from homes. 

“We don’t want to give them that easy food source in the neighborhoods,” FWC spokesman Greg Workman explained. 

Wildlife officials also talked about the rules and regulations when it comes to trapping. Some residents at the meeting say they want to catch the bobcat and move it. 

“I’d like to see them relocated. It’s not their fault – we’ve taken all their space,” Roy said.