Cat-Napped

Beware the Cat: A 30-pound bobcat trapped in Carmel Monday got a new lease on life when it was freed from an illegal trap. Imagine the fright a man and his grandson experienced Monday while taking a walk in the woods off Drewville Road in Carmel and hearing an animal growling at them.

As the pair rounded a curve along a trail they came upon a bobcat whose leg was secured in a trap.

Police were summoned and Officer James Evans and Sgt. Gary Johanson responded. When they realized the animal had been trapped on New York State and New York City-owned land, requests were made for New York State DEC Police and New York City DEP Police.

Carmel Police Chief Michael Johnson said since the trap was on city property where trapping is prohibited, and the trap did not have the name of the owner attached to it, a criminal investigation got underway.

In the meantime, police contacted the Carmel Animal Control Service, whose employees Chuck and Cricket Dyckman, successfully released the 30-pound bobcat back into the wild.

A short time later, Officer Evans observed a pick-up truck parked nearby when two teens emerged from a wooded area.

“A 17-year-old from Carmel, and his 13-year-old buddy who resides in Bedford, were checking their traps while Officer Evans observed several other traps in the truck along with a .22 caliber rifle, a BB gun, a bow, and various hunting knives,” said the chief.

The boys were brought to the Carmel PD headquarters where they were arrested on charges of trespass and failure to possess a New York City DEP Access Permit. Additional charges of possessing an unsecured bow and no name tags on animal traps were also lodged.

The 17-year-old was released to the custody of his parents pending a hearing Feb. 23 before Carmel Justice Thomas Jacobellis while the 13-yearold was released to his parents’ custody pending a hearing in Putnam County Family Court.

Marjorie Keith, executive director of Putnam County Cornell Cooperative Extension called it “not unusual” for wild bobcats to be found in Putnam County.