A Kirkland, Washington homeowner called 911 last week after hearing unexplained banging inside the house and reporting a possible burglary. Officers from the Kirkland Police Department reached the Moss Bay neighborhood and found no human intruder. The source of the noise was a bobcat, perched at the top of the interior staircase and growling.
A wild animal inside a closed residential structure is a specific operational problem: attempting direct contact risks escalating the encounter, but without continuous position data on the animal, coordinated response is difficult. Kirkland officers resolved both sides by deploying a drone to monitor the bobcat's movements through the home, giving responders real-time visibility while keeping them at a safe distance. The department cited that deployment in its public account of the incident. Video released by Kirkland police shows the bobcat at the top of the staircase, audibly growling.
Corralling, sedation, and release near Forbes Creek
With the drone providing coverage, officers corralled the bobcat into an isolated room and held it there until the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife arrived. Wildlife officials sedated the animal and later released it near Forbes Creek, close to the natural habitat where it had originally been found.
The Kirkland Police Department offered a probable entry path: the bobcat likely climbed a tree and jumped through an open window. Police believe the homeowner's cat was the draw. That cat was found unharmed.
No injuries were reported to the homeowner, the responding officers, or the bobcat.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife issued accompanying guidance: residents who encounter a bobcat should not approach or feed it, and should give the animal space. The agency recommends keeping pets indoors between dusk and dawn and securing small livestock and poultry.