Banging inside a Washington resident's home turned out not to be a burglar. Instead, responding police officers encountered an "unexpected intruder": a wild bobcat.
The Kirkland Police Department announced the ordeal in a Facebook post on Aug. 31, saying the homeowner in Moss Bay, about 10 miles from Seattle, called 911 to report the banging and a possible burglary. When officers arrived, they found the "cat burglar" at the top of the stairs, police said.
Police then deployed an unmanned aircraft to monitor the animal's movements inside the home. Doing this allowed officers to maintain a safe distance and "guide the response without placing anyone at unnecessary risk," according to the department's post.
Officers eventually corralled the bobcat,
and once the animal was contained in an isolated room, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to sedate it and release it near Forbes Creek, close to the natural habitat where the animal was found, police said.
No one was injured during the incident. The cat was also unharmed.
Police said they believe the animal most likely entered the residence by climbing a tree and jumping through an open window. According to Washington Fish and Wildlife, bobcats are found throughout Washington state and "are probably more common than most people realize."
"Bobcats appear to be using suburban settings more often, although due to their reclusive ways, they are not often seen," the state government agency says.
How to react to a bobcat encounter
People who encounter a bobcat in the wild should not approach or feed it. Washington Fish and Wildlife recommends pet owners keep their animals indoors – especially between dusk and dawn – and secure small livestock and poultry.
If a bobcat enters your residence, officials advise people to move themselves and pets away from the area and call 911.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Suspected 'cat burglar' turns out to be wild bobcat inside home
