An Edmonton woman was driving in a west end neighbourhood Monday evening, when she saw an unusual creature.
Niamh Doyle said she was in the area of Ravine Drive, just off of 142 Street when she saw the large cat.
“I thought it was a dog at first,” Doyle said. “I’m sure I think everyone else did, because no one else followed it.
“I came down here and followed it, and it just went on that side of the bushes, it went through and I thought I lost it…then it was sitting just by the house.”
She said she watched as the animal crept across a lawn, as she sat in her vehicle.
“It was 9:30 at night so it was late but it was still bright,” Doyle said.
“We thought bobcat, but bobcats don’t usually come up this far north, and it had really kind of mangly (sic) fur, and it had the black, the black on the tail. So we kind of knew it was a lynx.”
Doyle is a Grade 7 teacher, and said she’s looking forward to sharing this story with her students when class gets back in session.
A City of Edmonton spokesperson told CTV News if a wild animal is seen, they can contact Fish and Wildlife at 780-427-3574.
The city said they usually receive between four and five calls about lynx sightings, in a year. In less than 24 hours, they received three.
Mia Morley works closely with carnivores at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the zoo has been home for Zena the lynx for five years.
Morley said lynx are normally shy and generally avoid populated areas, but they’re often looking for food, such as rabbits or mice, as well.
“Definitely not this close to the city, more so on the outskirts or on farms or if you’re out hiking in the forest,” Morely said.
Later Tuesday, a woman in west Edmonton said she spotted a lynx, and wondered if it was unwell, as she saw it lay in the grass for more than an hour.
Park rangers found that cat and said it appeared to be dehydrated – it has been transferred to a rehabilitation centre for treatment, and it wasn’t clear if this cat was the same one seen Monday night.
With files from Susan Amerongen
