Going out into the great outdoors may yield some unexpected surprises. One Wisconsin teen recently got more than he bargained for while turkey hunting – a close encounter with a bobcat.
In a video shared on Facebook, a bobcat appeared just yards behind 19‑year‑old Carson Bender near Nekoosa, Wis., then lunged and grabbed his left arm. Bender shook off the animal, which he estimated weighed about 25 pounds, before it ran away, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. He later wrote that a doctor treated him for a few scratches on his shoulder.
Here’s what to know about bobcats, including whether they live in Ohio.
Are there bobcats in Ohio?
Ohio’s only wild cat is the bobcat, which is native to the state and thriving according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Ohio Division of Wildlife logged more than 500 confirmed sightings annually from 2019 to 2021. Bobcats are elusive and mostly nocturnal (active at dusk and dawn), so it’s unlikely for people to see one in the wild…