A bobcat was caught on camera roaming a Dedham neighborhood, and the town's animal control department is reminding residents to keep a close eye on small pets.

Dedham Animal Control shared the video on Wednesday, Oct. 28, as part of its "Wildlife Wednesday" series on Facebook. The post thanked a resident named Pattie for sharing the video and encouraged neighbors to document their own wildlife sightings.

The post spread fast. By Thursday, Oct. 29, it had drawn 51,000 views and 883 reactions. The video shows the bobcat sitting on a sidewalk, eyeing the person filming as its short, bobbed tail twitches.

Bobcats are the only native wild cat species found in Massachusetts, according to Dedham Animal Control. They are about twice the size of a typical house cat and are shy animals that prefer to avoid people. Although they sometimes appear during the day, they are most active around dawn and dusk.

The department said bobcats primarily eat mice, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks and birds. They are opportunistic predators, though, and will go after a small pet if given the chance.

Dedham Animal Control listed three steps residents should take to protect pets from wildlife in general, including bobcats:

  • Never leave small pets outside without close supervision, especially at dawn, dusk and overnight.
  • Reduce outdoor food sources, both intentional and unintentional.
  • "Haze" wildlife by making noise or otherwise teaching animals that approaching people is not safe.

Late October and November are transition periods when bobcat behavior and routines shift with the season, the department said. MassWildlife notes that bobcats are adapting to suburban settings and may turn up in backyards, though they seldom cause conflicts with people. The state agency says bobcats are common in central and western Massachusetts, present in the northeast and expanding into the southeast.

NBC Boston also covered the sighting on Oct. 29.

Adult bobcats weigh 15–35 pounds and can travel up to four miles a day, according to MassWildlife. They are active year-round, and Dedham Animal Control said residents should keep sharing any sightings with the department.