Wildcat Saunters into Whistlers Village Shop
A bobcat wandered into a business in the village of Whistler, B.C.,
much to the surprise of the owner who was trying to attract customers
by leaving the store door propped open.
A couple of customers were in the store when the wild animal sauntered
into Paul Nicholas' store last week, he told CBC News Friday.
"What had happened, I think, was it had been out in the village here
and there was kind of a crowd of people out front who, I think, were
taking pictures of it and it got spooked and it ran into the store,"
Nicholas said.
He and his customers took refuge in the back of the store while they
waited for police to arrive.
Meanwhile, the bobcat made himself at home, Nicholas said.
"It was kind of just walking around the store a bit and it didn't
really seem to have any troubles or any cares," Nicholas said.
"And it just kind of went and settled down behind our cash till and it
just kind of crouched down like a house cat would."
Nicholas said he was surprised to see a bobcat inside his store but he
wasn't frightened due to the cat's demure demeanour.
"I was kind of thinking, 'This doesn't happen very often!' so it was
definitely one of my more unusual customers."
Eventually, police and conservation officers chased the cat out of the
store and then caught the animal a short time later.
They released the unharmed animal back into the wild, south of Whistler.
CBC News Canada: 11/1/08