Animal predator, maybe a cat, still menacing Bolivia-area pets

An unknown animal predator is still on the loose near Bolivia in Brunswick County. And although no one has conclusively seen an animal that's being blamed for killing at least three dogs in neighborhoods along Midway Road, the county Animal Services director remains concerned.

Richard Cooper, the director, said Tuesday that Animal Services staffers had examined fresh tracks found in the front yard of New Testament Holiness Church on Brown Road to try to discern what type of animal has been menacing dogs in the neighborhood.

"No one has actually witnessed the animal in action," Cooper said, owing primarily to the fact that all the attacks on dogs have taken place at night.

A resident of the area, Bill Robinson, said the new tracks appear to be those of a large cat. The tracks were found Monday after dogs in the neighborhood had barked off and on for more than two hours.

Robinson said he knew of no new reports of dogs being attacked.

Cooper, after seeing the fresh tracks in the church yard, said they appear to be from a large dog or perhaps a bobcat.

The type of animal and its size have been the subject of much speculation in the neighborhood, and the story has drawn the attention of animal experts across the country.

Stephen Vantassel, a University of Nebraska researcher and project coordinator for the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, reviewed photos of animal tracks on StarNewsOnline.com.

"The track shown in the picture is inconclusive, but if I had to choose, I would say coyote," he said in an e-mail message. "Bobcat tracks are rounder than coyotes. Coyote tracks range from 2.25-3.5 inches in length, (while) bobcat is only 1.7-2.5 in length. Comparison is with front feet. Bear tracks would be much larger."

Vantassel said further information on animal behavior and identification can be found on the center's Web site, http://icwdm.org.

Cooper said the county Animal Services department remains on call, at 754-8204, to respond to any sightings or reports of animal attacks. He said residents in the affected neighborhoods should use caution when outdoors.

Paul Jefferson 538-2955

paul.jefferson@starnewsonline.com