BANGOR, Maine — When Josh Plourde of Bangor saw a van parked on Harlow Street around midnight on Tuesday, he noticed the flashing hazard lights and saw that all four doors of the vehicle were open.
What he saw when he stopped to offer assistance was a bit of a surprise: A bobcat was hiding under the van.
“I guess what happened was a woman was driving in Veazie on Route 2 and she hit what she thought was a house cat,” Plourde said. “It was still alive and was kind of hurt. So she pulled over to the side and scooped it up and put it in the car, thinking that it was hurt and was out in the wild. She wanted to help it.”
The problem: The animal was not only in the wild. It was wild.
“By the time she got to downtown Bangor she realized what she had put in her car was not in fact a house cat,” Plourde said.
The woman was understandably distressed. She parked next to Bangor City Hall and opened up all the doors of her vehicle in order to let the cat escape. It did, partially, scurrying out of the van and hiding underneath it.
Plourde said the woman didn’t have a cellphone, so he called police, who responded. Maine Game Warden Jim Fahey also responded to the call.
According to the police report, Officer John Robinson of the Bangor Police Department actually happened upon the car during a routine downtown patrol.
Bangor police Sgt. Bob Bishop, Sgt. Larry Weber and Officer Gary Decker also responded to the incident. Bishop used a catch pole to secure the bobcat until Fahey arrived.
Fahey said he spoke with Bishop and learned that the cat was severely injured.
“I saw it had a hip and/or leg injury and was unable to walk,” Fahey said. “My estimation was it was going to be a mortal wound.”
The bobcat was humanely euthanized, Fahey said. The driver hadn’t committed any crime and no charges were filed.
“In my experience, when you have a full-sized vehicle [striking] a 20-pound animal, there’s a lot going on there. It’s not just a sprained hip,” said Fahey, who said the cat likely suffered serious internal injuries, as well.
Fahey said the bobcat was a small adult. Both he and the Bangor Police Department cautioned the public, warning well-meaning people to avoid handling animals, whether wild or domesticated.
“Although this [case] seems amusing, one should always be careful handling injured animals and call [the] local animal control officer or game wardens when in doubt,” Bangor Police Sgt. Paul Edwards wrote in a news release.
Fahey agrees.
“If they feel strongly about [doing something], they could certainly report the incident so that there’s no undue suffering on behalf of the animal,” Fahey said. “But I’m not going to suggest people handle a wild animal. Rabies, bites, scratches. There are a lot of reasons not to handle a wild animal.”
ohhhh man, you just can’t make this stuff up!!
girl, that’s no house cat, dang!! hahaa
I simply do not understand how someone can pick up this animal and not know it was a bobcat.
Poor woman was probably startled out of her wits…
That thing could have clawed her eyes out.
Imagine if that thing had come around, got his second wind,
it would have been scared as hell. She is damned lucky that
thing didn’t attack her while she was driving. I just can’t fathom anybody
being that stupid, taking a chance with rabies & all.
low incidence of rabies around these parts it happens, but not often. Feline leukemia far more likely. Hope she doesn’t have cats at home.
If stopping to assist an injured animal (especially since she thought it was a domestic cat…possibly a large Maine Coon) is stupid, would that more people were this stupid. I’ve lost 2 dogs and 2 cats for being hit by people who just kept going.
Stopping to assist is NOT stupid. Nobody loves animals more than I do. What she did after she stopped was really stupid.
And anybody that isn’t trained that puts an injured animal inside
their car IS stupid. She is not a vet, or warden. Can’t tell the
difference between a wild bobcat & a house cat.
If you don’t know what it is or what it does, LEAVE IT ALONE!
Vets and animal rehabilitators don’t go to injured animals; you have to transport them, unless you want the local police, sheriff’s deputy, or state trooper to shoot the animal without having a professional evaluation done to determine whether the injuries are too severe for treatment save the animal. Sometimes it’s obvious there’s no hope. Sometimes it’s not, as the case was with the raccoon in Hancock County.
Perhaps it’s time that you realize it’s not smart to let your pets outside to fend for themselves.
it was dark out?? But I have to admit it is pretty big for a house cat.
No. Nit wit comes to mind. I just don’t understand how some
people function and get through from one day to the next being
that stupid.
Politicians ??
Good point!
Pretty rude of you – she is obviously a kind woman with a big heart and was trying to do the right thing and you call her a nit wit.
Do you suppose that your reply will reform Rocky4? He is a constant troll with never a nice word for anyone.
Maybe if we ignore him he’ll go away.
Rocky4 needs alot of attension.Seems to feel insulting others,and making crude remarks will get him some.Hope he grows up soon
It’s hard to keep track of all these trolls on here – there are just so many! :-)
You are so right
I don’t know but many of your posts seem to come under the category of nit wit.
It would be nice if you could tell the difference between
tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, humor, and reality. Keep trying.
Your humor is to put people down?
That is so sad. I am very sad for you
Sounds like you have some serious self-esteem issues. Most bullies do.
It shouldn’t be to hard for you to figure it out,after all, your still around.
;+)…..cute. If you’re going to slam someone please get
your spelling and punctuation correct. :-/
You do seem to enjoy calling people names and putting people down DON’T YOU!!!
She got out the van. She didn’t have a cell phone. She didn’t realize it wasn’t a housecat until she arrived in Downtown Bangor. It was dark. She was scared and emotional from hitting an animal with her car.
I understand her distress over hitting an animal.
Thank you for helping her Josh,many people would have kept going.Its people like you who give me hope.
Some people during hunting season shoot all kinds of different animals thinking they are deer. At least this one was a cat. Just happened to be a bobcat.
Why is it BDN feels the need to show us all a photo of the dead cat??
They show photos of dead deer that people kill on purpose.
is it dead??
No, just taking a nap.
nope -just on bath saltz
To show how rediculous it was for her to think that is a domesticated cat. Yes come cats are large however Bobcats are built completely different.
only in Maine…lol, thats one big “house cat!” lol
She thought it was a housecat? The first thing they should have done was give her a field sobriety test!
Along with an eye exam…..
I had a 33 lb housecat.He was an American Shorthair,which become very large.
Just the other day I picked up someone’s poor little puppy dog on side of the road, it wasn’t until it had chewed off my arm and most of my leg that I realized it was a wolf!
Pet Cemetery?
Stephen is that you, getting material for your next book?
LOL. You forgot to add…..”but I got better.”
Ha!
In all of human history there are only two reports of an unprovoked wolf attacking a human.
That’s it, pick up a Bobcat, and try letting it run loose in the city limits opening up all of your car doors….
The “City” already has bob cats, moose, fox, wild dogs, coyotes, skunks, racoons, and any number of other animals. some fat more dangerous than a bobcat.
I would guess that there is NO city in the USA which does not have wild animals within its borders. When I was young in New York City, we regularly had possums in our yard. Those who do not know this animal may be surprised to learn that they can be much more dangerous than a bobcat. They have jaws as strong as an alligator, and teeth like razors. While it would be hard for a possum to kill a adult, a child might not fare well in a encounter.
What many of these posters don’t seem to realize is that wild animals venture closer to the cities everywhere more than ever before. Not hard to figure out why. There was a program on PBS the other night about tigers in Africa…..they often are found on the outskirts of the large cities there; people awake to find them knocking over garbage cans,etc.
it doesn’t need to be encouraged is my point.
Welcome to Maine. Wildlife is everywhere and just because you live behind those magical city limits doesn’t mean that they know any different. Believe it or not, while cartoons may personify animals, in real life they have no clue what town or city they are in…they are just looking for food or shelter and could care less that they have entered the arbitrary borders of a city.
Which is true on the other hand, if you are going to pick up a bobcat, leave it in your car without letting it back out. Is that what would happen if say a child got hit? Would you say “oh gee I didn’t realize you were a kid” and then get out of your car, open all the doors and wait for them to escape.
Well, while I find it a little on the comical side that she mistook a bobcat for a house cat, at least she made the effort to make things right. One time I witnessed as vehicle in front of me hit a dog on route 1 in Thomaston. They hit the dog broadside and I pulled over immediately as they hit him going about 35. I got out and stopped traffic as the owner grabbed the dog from the road and took its last breaths while the person that hit the dog sped away. It was absolutely stupid of me to get out on route 1 in the middle of the summer and stop traffic on one of the busiest roads in the state, but sometimes you do things in a panic in an attempt to help. This is all she did. It was an attempt to help, and yeah we can all laugh and say how ‘stupid’ she is for mistaking a huge bobcat for a house cat, but at least she tried to help.
She realizes she has a bobcat on board so she plans to release it in a city! Why not just get out of the van and call 911?! I really want this woman around in an emergency. It’s clear she can handle things.
She got out the van. She didn’t have a cell phone. She didn’t realize it wasn’t a housecat until she arrived in Downtown Bangor. It was dark. She was scared out of her wits and emotional from hitting an animal with her car.
Thanks for your response. I don’t how all these people who posted are such authorities on this situation. Like you said, it was dark and she was upset at hitting what she thought was someone’s cat. There are many very large cats (house cats)….larger than a small dog sometimes. How was she to know?!
I actually have some of those house cats that are MUCH larger than a small dog… If she was able to “scoop it up” then it is reasonable to think she assumed it was just a really large house cat. I applaud the woman for trying to help. Most people couldn’t care less that they just injured an animal and don’t think twice about it. She was making an honest effort to make a difference and rectify what she had done. How many of you putting this poor woman down would have done the same? It’s just too bad it turned out the way it did.
You are correct here. I have a “house” cat that weighs in at 22 pounds, and the vet says he’s NOT fat. He’s all white so we named him “Polar Bear.”
I had one who was 33 lbs. I have 2 that are over 20 lbs. and one who is 15 lbs at 9 months old.All are DOMESTIC,not wild cats.It happens.
What growth hormones are you feeding your cats?!
Just purina cat chow
Relase in the the city?? I dont think she planned on releasing it, secondly what does it matter if it’s in Bangor or not? There is just as much wildlife including foxes, coyotes, and others living right in peoples backyards… Having a bobcat loose in “the city” really isnt an issue especially that early when there is minimal traffic.
YEAH she would fit right in with most of the commenter’s on here.
I wouldn’t consider this a 911 call. After all, 911 is supposed to be used for actual emergencies. It’s not meant to be general number to call any police department.
Good thing she didn’t hit one with a white stripe down its back.
It should have been taken to the animal park in Gray
Good suggestion.
While I’d think a Bobcat is rather easily identified, my Maine Coon is 20 pounds and wild looking. In the dark and distress? I don’t know…maybe?
The woman’s a bit flaky it sounds, though I can give her a bit of a pass for her good intentions. :D
It looks like a furry version of my mouse catcher.
Do you have a recipe? You must have one to go along with the moose….
The moose is great, but his squirrel recipes are the best.
Giant China Buffet??
Secret sauce.
stereotype much?
OK,
how bout RoadKill Cafe’ , instead ??
All better now ??
Next time call a Whaaaambulance.
I miss roadkill cafe.
Hypersensitive much?
At least she stopped and tried to be helpful. A lot of people would have just taken off leaving a family wondering where their pet is. What are the odd of hitting a bob cat? I saw one in my yard the other day and initially thought it was a large house cat. I’ve also known 30+ pound cats. She’s darn lucky the cat didn’t nail her! .
Oh boy like the woman and the raccoon.
Racist much?? This isn’t even remotely funny. No excuse. Nothing like perpetuating the impression that Mainers are a bunch of backwards, stupid hicks.
Go back to New Jersey..and take the people who are ruining MY home state with you
Seriously Mike are you talking about skin pigment exclusively?
I know she obviously meant well, but…wow. (SMH)
really big kitty!
You’re really not very bright. Some comments on here are amusing but not yours. Just numb!
cardpuff48, some people will never like me, and I’m OK with that
It’s not that I don’t like you; I don’t know you. I just didn’t find any humor in your response. I quess I’m overly sensitive when it comes to pets. Can’t even watch PBS nature shows and animals rescue ads without crying.
That is not a pet.. not even close. Its a wild animal. Secondly if it were trapped then it would have been used for fur which is worth money based on what the market is paying. Not funny however there is truth behind what was written.
I understand they made human skin lampshades in Germany before and during the Second World War.
True.
Okay, so the game warden decided the wounds must be mortal… but lots of housecats CAN survive being hit by a car – with proper medical attention. Why couldn’t a bobcat? Too much hassle for them?
exactly my thoughts…our cat had pretty much the same type of injury, broken pelvis broken hip broken tail, missing for two days, and then he crawled home. took him to the vets, some dollars later he is still with us.
thats the rub dude. who is gunna pay the $1000.00 for this wild animal to have surgery it might not even survive? then housing and care during recovery and placement after all that because he can’t go back and survive in the wild.
It is great you love you cat enough to be able to spend a good chunk of change to keep him with you. I had a similar experience when I rescued my cat as a kitten. He had a fairly serious umbilical hernia and was about 6 weeks old or less when I found him at the parking lot of my work. I considered bringing him to the humane society as I hadn’t planned on adopting a pet but after I brought him home to my sweetheart she immediately told me we were keeping him. So $350.00 surgery later we have our first cat!
However had we given him to the humane society with the chance of the surgery being successful around 50/50 they would have euthanized him which I wouldn’t have faulted them for because that money could be spent to spay/neuter a dozen cats and feed them for 2-3 weeks until they get homes. Just like the bobcat, someone would have had to foot that bill and it would have potentially being taken money away from a different animal/s that needed it.
That’s a house cat.. This is a bobcat. It always dosen’t have a fairy tale ending. Look at millions social security that they wanted to retire on… Just saying.
I’ve had a few experiences with Warden Fahey (injured eagle, rabid racoon and deer on melting ice) and he was very reponsive, helpful and professional. Good guy! I trust his judgment.
Well, who’s going to pay for it? Seriously? I am a true blue animal lover, but sometimes you do the most humane thing when it comes to wild animals. To hospitalize it would cause it untold stress and probably kill it anyway. Sad to see a beautiful creatures demise.
Eactly.Why kill it slowly by caging it nd trying to ”help” it.Its not right to keep a suffering wild animal alive.Its not only a horrible thing to do to the animalits also dangerous for the people and pets it could come in contact with.
Thats a game animal. It’s like helping a deer when it’s hit. You shoot it and move forward. It happens…..Bobcat season is right now. Started December 1st.
what are you going to do with it even if it survives.It can never be wild again.Do you suggest spending thousands to treat it,and then letting it die of starvation because it cant hunt?
Experienced wildlife rehabilitators have had lots of success nursing wildlife back to health and returning them to the wild successfully.
This animal had very serious,life threatening injuries.It would not heal well enough to be able to hunt and fend for or protect itself.
I’m glad he/she is no longer suffering. Poor baby :(
That comment was totally ignorant and racist! You should be ashamed of yourself. I guess now we all know what kind of a person you are.
Yep and when they get your daughter hooked on drugs and break into your house, remember those words
The fact that I have to live with people who live off of my tax dollars and are ruining Bangor is ignorant
Lots of people of different races are living off your tax dollars! Your comments are disgusting and inappropriate and I hope they kick your butt off here. You are living in a different time than the rest of us and you really need to keep these comments to yourself. Thank you!!!
Just for argument’s sake you think now is better than say, the 1950’s?
Funny thing though, I did not take Mike’s comment as “racist” until someone a lot younger explained the situation.
Unfortunately, it isn’t much better and you see that far too often just from the commentators on this site. Yahoo comments are pretty vicious also. A sad truth…
Moms a sports fan is she?
Yep loves hockey
It makes you wonder about folks, good heart and all but she is truly lucky because this cat is one awesome hombre and could of put a world of hurt on her. I’m glad it wasn’t a moose.
Or a deer in the back of 67 Plymouth Belvedere convertible.
This sounds like something Will Ferrell would do in a movie. “There’s a bobcat in my van! A bobcat!” Oh wait, he did with a cougar.
You may want to update the coding used to show “similar” stories. Not only are none of the “similar” stories remotely similar, your story just yesterday about the rescued raccoon doesn’t even appear.
Me, I would have insisted it be taken to a vet. But, that’s just my big heart talkin’.
It looked like it was in pretty good condition. Should have taken it to the Nokomis Regional High School’s taxidermy program for the kids to work on. I’ll bet they don’t get too many bobcats.
Easy to kill something, not so easy to save it, so no contest.
I found a fox (years ago) that had been hit by a vehicle It was in pretty bad shape, but I brought it home (yeah I know that is illegal) nursed it back to health, and brought it up to a large piece of family land in Aroostook and released it. For several years I would see this animal running across the fields behind our cabin. I knew this particular fox because it had a completely white tail.
Kuddos to her for atleast stopping and having compassion for the animal. Most get left in the road to die, We don’t see bob cats everyday here and Im sure in her anxious state after hitting it, she was just caught up in the emotions and placed it in her car. I applaud her and am just glad she wasn’t hurt!
The Bobcat should not had been put down….neither Sgt Bishop or the Warden are qualified vets. If the Vet decided that it could not save the Bobcat than he should of euthanized it. It is so easier to put an animal down than to take the time and take it to a qualified Vet to help. The Bobcat got out of the Vehicle by its self so it was that critical. Just didn’t want to take the time. How sad.
Are you going to pay for the surgery that may not work? And take it home to rehabilitate it? How about we save that money for domestic animals that need to be spayed/neutered? Not trying to sound mean but someone has to foot the bill.
There are wildlife rehabilitators who could provide care after surgery, if surgery was needed.
She tried to help,and that was good.I am also happy the animal was put down humanly,and not left somewhere to suffer.
Hmmmmm.
Knew a girl like that once………………………
Reminds me of the time I picked up a cougar in the dark on the side of the road in Veazie and gave her a ride.
Won’t be doing that again…
She’s just lucky it wasn’t the “endangered” canadian lynx – She’d probably be in a federal penn. right now !
My wife did this with a possum one time. She thought it was dead. It turned out to be very much alive.
Gotta ask. What did your wife want with a dead possum? Please don’t tell me she thougth of serving up road kill stew.
People, this is Maine. Every week (it seems) something is in season to get shot out there. They kill all kinds of animals for the meat, antlers, or gosh knows what you do with your carcasses. A cougar is euthanized and everyone is weighing in on the morality of doing that.
To bad it wasn’t a puppy,, then the cops would have had something to shoot.
Since when — even in Maine — is a game warden a qualified assessor of injury and treatment potential? I don’t think so….