The female bobcat, Ollie, who escaped from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo yesterday has not returned to her enclosure. The Zoo received several calls from the public overnight with consistent information indicating she may be in the Zoo’s adjacent Woodley/Cleveland Park neighborhoods. Early this morning, the Zoo dispatched a team comprised of zoo keepers, zoo Police and DC Humane Rescue Alliance who are currently searching in these areas.

No one should approach the bobcat if she is spotted. The public should note the time and exact location of the bobcat and call 202-633-7362. There is no imminent danger to the general public. Bobcats are not known to be aggressive to humans.

The approximately 25-pound bobcat likely climbed through a small opening in the mesh net that encloses her habitat.  The industrial grade mesh measures 2 inches by 2 inches. During an inspection yesterday, keepers noticed that one piece of the mesh was broken forming a larger hole, approximately 5 inches by 5 inches.  Ollie is an adept climber and would have been able to climb and crawl through the hole.  For more about the species, read the bobcat section of the Zoo’s website.

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