WINDSOR, Vt. — A Vermont man was taken to the hospital after he was attacked by a bobcat inside his home.
An elderly man inside the house trapped the bobcat in a bathroom and shut the door, but was injured in the process, The Associated Press reported.
Police told WCAX they believe the wild animal got into the Windsor, Vermont home through an open door on Friday morning.
“It was a very lean bobcat and we believe that it did chase a cat into the residence and that is when it came in contact with the individuals who lived there,” Windsor Police Chief Jennifer Frank told WCAX.
“This is a very rare and unusual circumstance,” Frank told WCAX. “In fact, I’ve never seen this happen before in my career, where it gained entry into someone’s home and then made contact with a person.”
Officials with Vermont Fish and Wildlife responded and euthanized the animal, which will be tested for rabies and other diseases, the AP said.
Chief Frank told WCAX there were workers cutting down trees next door to the property, which may have had an impact on the animal’s habitat, prompting it to go inside the home.