Ollie the Bobcat escapes from the National Zoo

[brooklynite]

Washington Post:

A 25-pound bobcat escaped Monday from the National Zoo, the zoo said.

The large cat, which can be a threat to domestic dogs and cats, is not a danger to the public, but should not be approached, the zoo said.

Ollie, a female, was last seen in her enclosure by a keeper at 7:30 a.m. When summoned for breakfast at 10:40 a.m., Ollie did not show up.

“Animal Care staff conducted an immediate search and have not located the bobcat,” the zoo said in a statement.

"Look, mom; a kitty cat!"

[rzemanfl]

1. Musta heard about Drumpf. n/t

[Angry Dragon]

4. my thought

[GoCubsGo]

2. I hope Uday and Qusay Trump didn't hunt her down.

Such a beautiful kitty!

[frazzled]

3. Headed for the White House?

Geez, that bobcat looks just like my teeny tiny house cat.

[jmowreader]

9. Except he's about twice the size

This is a full-body picture of a bobcat:



They look a lot like you crossed a Maine Coon with a Manx and got a kitteh that combined the taillessness of the Manx with the size of the Maine Coon.

I'd kinda recommend the good people of Washington keep their chihuahuas and poodles inside until this guy gets recaptured; bobcats LOVE to eat little dogs. (Republicans can do what they want.)

[eleny]

16. I saw one at dawn up on the Skyline Drive - so beautiful

It was many decades ago but I never forgot it. Foggy morning and it came out of the mist, crossed the road in front of my 1971 VW Squareback, stopped in the middle of road to look my way and dashed into the fog the other side of the road. Magnificent bundle of fur and muscle.

[jmowreader]

20. You were very lucky

I've never seen one in the wild, and the town I live in has quite a few.

[eleny]

21. I do cherish the experience

[msanthrope]

5. I post this clip without comment.

[madokie]

6. A while back

as my wife was pulling in the drive from work she seen a bobcat cross our back yard.

One of my brothers has seen one at his sawmill more than just a time or two.

They're pretty good sized cats

[Dismade]

11. How nice for her!

[madokie]

17. She stayed in the car until it went out of sight

[Dismade]

7. Very fine animals

I hope that all goes well for Ms. Ollie.
❤

[haele]

8. She looks like our Princess...

Our grumpy, elderly 10 lb. Lynx-point Polydactyl Pixie-bob mix. Princess has tufty ears, sideburns, a ridiculously short bob of a tail, and 27 toes with 27 claws.
She's also got crystal blue eyes.

Hope they catch this pretty girl before some idiot hits her with a car or shoots her.

Haele

[yardwork]

10. Ollie wants out! And who can blame her.

[susanna]

12. She needs a pink hat. n/t

[suffragette]

13. Is she looking for her wool hat?

[eleny]

14. If she can get to the Nat'l Forest to the west she'll have it made!

[MoonRiver]

15. Good! Free the slaves.

That one will be able to blend in and integrate back into the wild just fine.

[hunter]

18. We had a dog who picked a fight with a bobcat. The cat nearly scalped her.

Cat got away unharmed, dog had some permanent scars.



We have more trouble with suburban coyotes and raccoons than bobcats.

I hope this zoo bobcat returns. It probably doesn't have the skills to live wild.

[bathroommonkey76]

19. Andie McDowell filmed this bobcat peering into her window in MT recently

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[brooklynite]

22. UPDATE - still missing

Still missing: Ollie, the 25-pound bobcat from D.C.’s National Zoo

Overnight, officials at the zoo said they received several calls from the public with what they termed as “consistent information” that she may be in nearby Woodley Park and Cleveland Park.

Officials warned that Ollie, while cute in pictures and inside her normal habitat at a zoo enclosure, she is not a normal house cat.

Don’t call, “Here kitty, kitty.” In fact, they warn, that no one should approach the bobcat if they see her. Instead, take note of the time and her exact location. Anyone with information should call 202-633-7362, officials said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/still-missing-ollie-the-25-pound-bobcat-from-dcs-national-zoo/2017/01/31/5963b6c8-e7bc-11e6-80c2-30e57e57e05d_story.html?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.e36f3d1d986d

[MoonRiver]

23. YAY!

Free at last!

[procon]

29. Free? To get get hit by a car, shot, attacked by dogs, starved... why would you want that?

This is an animal that lives in captivity, and while you can object to that, this cat has no experience that will enable him to survive on his own. Unlike even a feral cat, he doesn't know how to avoid the common dangers of a human community.

I hope he is found quickly before anything terrible happens to him and returned to the safety of his environment.

[MoonRiver]

30. The bobcat instincts, which far exceed human interference, will kick in.

I think this one will make it! I'm rooting for him/her!

[procon]

32. Alternate facts. nt

[LanternWaste]

33. I especially like how you provide objective and supporting evidence

I especially like how you provide objective and supporting evidence for both your own premise and your criticism, regardless of your factual alternatives you allude to...

[procon]

34. This isn't a courtroom. You can disagree with my opinion,

just as I can object to someone who thinks an animal can survive on instinct alone, and without the waspish criticism for failing to provide any sort of "objective and supporting evidence", yeah?

[brooklynite]

24. UPDATE-Still no Ollie...

National Zoo ?@NationalZoo 4 hours ago

We have not found Ollie yet. There were no sightings overnight. If you do spot her please call 202-633-7362.

[alarimer]

25. "I've had enough of Trump too."

Better escape now while you still have a chance, Ollie. Maybe show up at the Trump Hotel.

[pinboy3niner]

26. No, Ollie, stay away from the Trump Hotel. It has BEDBUGS!!! nt

[alarimer]

36. We need to tell everyone it has bedbugs

We have a duty to the traveling public.

[shenmue]

27. Looking for cheezburgers

[Botany]

28. Rock Creek Park is right there

Plenty of critters to eat too.

[Bayard]

31. Bobcats are pretty cool

Used to have them on my CA farm. Hard to catch a glimpse of them though because they were afraid of humans and dogs. One time two males got in the top of a huge oak in the field beside the house, and started fighting. Crazy screaming.

We always had more trouble with coyotes. I'm afraid little Ollie is not long for this world. Someone will shoot her.

[eleny]

35. I'm still hoping she makes it to the Nat'l Forest!