Town officials confirmed this week that a bobcat was found in Dartmouth, a first for the town.

On February 29, 2016, Animal Control Officer Sandra Gosselin responded to a call for a deceased bobcat in North Dartmouth. Gosselin investigated the call and discovered a deceased full grown bobcat. This is Dartmouth Animal Control’s first documented occurrence of a bobcat in Dartmouth.

Director of Public Health Christopher Michaud has released information to residents in light of the recent discovery.

Bobcats are the only wild feline in Massachusetts. Adult bobcats weigh between 15 and 35 pounds and measure 28 to 47 inches in overall length. The color of their fur ranges from yellowish to reddish brown with black spots across most of the animals sides and back. The undercoat is typically white with black spots.

Bobcats are capable of living in a variety of habitats that are found in Dartmouth’s open spaces – swamps, bogs, hardwood forests and overgrown fields. Bobcats, shy away from large open fields, however.

Like many wild animals, bobcats can be active throughout the day; however, they tend to exhibit most of their activity from a few hours before sunset until a few hours after sunrise. They are active year round and do not hibernate like some mammals.

Bobcats are carnivores typically preying upon small to medium sized animals such as mice, rabbits, snakes and birds. Predation on domestic animals is not reported to be a significant problem in Massachusetts.

Michaud reminds the public to not feed wild animals, secure outdoor trash receptacles, do not let pets out at night unaccompanied, and contact Animal Control through the police should you spot sickly wildlife in residential areas. Michaud said rabies is present in Dartmouth and any mammal can carry this deadly disease.