CANADA SIGHTINGS: Big cat roaming Edmonton likely a lynx, not a cougar

BY TREVOR ROBB, EDMONTON SUN

FIRST POSTED: MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2014 02:30 PM MDT | UPDATED: MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2014 02:40 PM MDT

A large cat padding around the central part of the city on Sunday was likely a lynx, not a cougar, officials say.

Around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, calls came into police from people saying they saw a large cat -- that appeared to be as big as a cougar -- roaming around near the Old Timers' Cabin on Scona Road.

An Alberta Justice spokesman said Monday that while Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers were unable to locate the animal, it "was likely not a cougar."

"From the description, it could have been a lynx, but they're not really considered a public safety threat. It's rare enough to see them and it's extremely rare for them to make any contact with humans," Brendan Cox said.

"There are a lot of rabbits in the city and they (Lynx) do like to prey on rabbits, so it's possible there may have been one looking for rabbits."

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