Police respond to 2nd bobcat encounter in southeast Calgary, woman left injured

A woman in the southeast Calgary community of Parkland was injured following an encounter with a bobcat on Sunday, according to police.

Officers responded around 4:45 p.m. on Sunday after receiving "reports of a bobcat attack" from witnesses, said acting Calgary police staff sergeant Mike Sushelnitsky.

"From the investigation, it looked like the pedestrian received some minor injuries and was treated at hospital after they took themselves there," he said.

The incident follows a bobcat encounter that left a woman injured in Parkland on June 23.

Sushelnitsky did not comment on whether the two incidents could be related.

"It's unknown what provoked this attack," said Sushelnitsky, who pointed to Parkland's proximity to Fish Creek Provincial Park as a potential factor behind wildlife encounters.

Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services responded to the scene alongside the Calgary Police Service and were unable to locate the bobcat.

In a statement sent to CBC News, Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Sheena Campbell said the victim had "noticed a bobcat kitten" while walking a dog off leash.

"As they began to leash their pet and move out of the area, an altercation with an adult bobcat occurred, which resulted in some superficial scratches to the victim," Campbell wrote.

She said Fish and Wildlife is currently unable to determine whether the same bobcat was involved in both incidents — which occurred approximately two kilometres apart — but said "the proximity suggests it is possible."