Bobcats Coming To Maryland Zoo In 2017

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- If you're ever asked to think about cats, your mind probably conjures up an image of a house cat -- but did you know there are wild cats in Maryland?

In fact, as WJZ's Mike Schuh reports, the country's most abundant kind of cat found in the wild will be coming to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

Just west of Hampden, the skyline on the horizon is a place that is a pretty good stand-in for Western Maryland; a place where, if you know where to look, you can find some bobcats.

Twice as big and twice as heavy, Bobcats are like a house cat on steroids.

Unlike his brothers and sisters in the wild, there's one with a name. It's Kilgore.

"We're always looking at ways to create a better guest experience here at the zoo, so the bobcats are something we're really looking forward to," said Jane Ballentine, Maryland Zoo.

So where the, ahem, Bobcat bulldozer is parked now, the Maryland Zoo is tearing up the space that used to be home to red foxes.

"So we decided on bobcats because they do occur in Maryland, out in the western part of the state, and you will find them kind of sporadically through the rest of the state," said Erin Cantwell, Maryland Zoo.

Soon, before the space is even ready, some more bobcats will be acquired to keep Kilgore company.

"And since this is our Maryland wilderness area, we thought this would be a nice fit. They're very dynamic, and they'll be a lot of fun for people to watch," Cantwell said.

So look sharp, pelicans, wake up the flamingos, let them know to spread the word to the penguins: it will soon be time to give a big zoo welcome to the new neighbors.

The bobcat project will open in the spring of 2017.