Ocelot loose in Columbia, SC?

Ocelot loose in Columbia SC?

(Columbia) – For a second time since Wednesday, someone has spotted what’s believed to be a large exotic cat in an Irmo neighborhood; this time the sighting came on Lost Creek Drive near the Broad River area.

Animal control officers have responded, but so far found nothing.

The first possible sighting came Wednesday morning in the Glenridge subdivision off of Broad River Road in Irmo. Louise Calamara says she and her dog, TJ, were out for a walk around 7:40 a.m., when TJ began to growl.

"I turned around to see what he was growling at, and I see a great big cat over there coming toward me and the dog."

Louise says the cat was the size of lab, and estimates it could have weighed as much as 75 pounds.

"The cat started hissing and spitting at me and I see its big white teeth and it was time to run."

She ran inside and called 911. Animal control came out, but didn’t find anything. Since the first sighting, officers have said the animal could be a puma, which is not native to S.C.

"I hope it’s either caught, disappears, or goes back to where it came from."

On Friday, Louise passed out flyers in her neighborhood warning others to be on the lookout for the animal. "People (need to) be careful," she said. "Watch out for their children. Don’t let them play outside alone and watch all of their animals."

If you see anything strange in the Harbison area of Northwest Columbia, call Animal Control, at 776-7387.

 Van O’Cain, New Media Manager  

For the cats,

Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue

an Educational Sanctuary home

to more than 100 big cats

12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL  33625

813.493.4564 fax 885.4457

http://www.BigCatRescue.org MakeADifference@BigCatRescue.org

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