'Aggressive' Bobcat Attacks Winterville Juveniles: Fire Officials

WINTERVILLE, GA — Oglethorpe County fire officials said an "aggressive" bobcat attacked juveniles on two separate properties Friday evening.

The Oglethorpe County Fire and Rescue Department said in a Facebook post the attacks happened around 6:30 p.m. in the area of Melton and Williams McCurley roads.

The department did not detail the extent of the juveniles' injuries and did not give the status of the bobcat.

Fire officials warned people in the area to know their surroundings and closely monitor their children while they are outdoors.

Local authorities, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Public Health have been notified of the attacks, fire officials said.

The U.S. Humane Society said bobcats are more fearful of humans than humans are afraid of them, though they can "lose their natural fear of people when they find free sources of human-associated food (e.g., pet food left on porches) in neighborhoods and have repeated contact with people with no negative consequences."

Bobcats are known to make their dens under porches, decks, sheds and other structures, the society said.

The humane society offered the following suggestions for avoiding bobcat encounters:

• At dusk, light the den area.
• Turn a radio on a 24-hour talk or rap station and place at the den.
• Place apple cider vinegar-soaked rags at the den.
• Never use moth balls or ammonia to harass wildlife. The chemicals released are harmful to both humans and animals.
• Exercise extra caution in the spring with exclusion techniques so as not to separate mom from her kittens.
• Install an L-shaped footer in the space under the structure.

Patch is working to learn additional information.