Bobcat kills 3 pets before capture in El Dorado Hills, California

Captured bobcat.

It was stalking around town, on the hunt for prey in a secluded El Dorado Hills neighborhood overrun with trees and brush. It's the kind of environment that makes it easy for a predator on the top of the food chain to hide out.

A 50-pound bobcat did some serious damage to the community, killing 3 pets in 2 days.

"Killed one of their cats, attacked another one of their cats and tried to eat it but the cat got away. Killed another neighbor's cat, then he called us," Jeffery Duke of Duke's Wildlife Control & Removal told FOX40.

That victim took to a community watch group, warning others after his pet was killed in his own yard. He also witnessed the same animal eating someone else's cat. It had no fear of humans and was capable of hopping fences. It took expertise to nab the wildcat.

"They are so hard to catch and so aware that the grass he is walking on has to be the same," Duke said.

It's the first time Duke's Wildlife Control has ever captured one.

"In this area where he was tracked down, there's plenty of food sources: deer, wild turkey, rodents, and pets that venture outdoors," Duke said. "Nothing you can do but keep your pets inside. They aren't coming in your house after you."

We've seen it time and time again as the drought worsens; wild animals venture closer to humans on the prowl for food.

Duke caught the bobcat, and by law, the animal had to be euthanized.

Chomsky: We Are All – Fill in the Blank.

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