Most high-tech police drones are deployed for high-speed chases or search and rescue missions, but officers in Kirkland, Wash., recently launched one indoors for a wilder reason: tracking a live bobcat sitting at the top of a resident’s staircase.
According to a Kirkland Police Department Facebook post, the incident unfolded in the Moss Bay neighborhood last week after a resident heard loud banging inside their home and called 911 to report a break-in.
Responding officers expecting a human burglar were surprised to find the intruder was a bobcat.
In order to maintain a safe distance and manage the response, officers deployed an unmanned aircraft to monitor the cat’s movements inside the home.
The bobcat was corralled into an isolated room until the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife arrived, according to the Facebook post. The bobcat was sedated and later released near Forbes Creek, close to the natural habitat where it was found.
The bobcat is believed to have climbed a tree and jumped through an open window to gain entry possibly drawn inside by the resident’s cat, which was later found unharmed.
The indoor operation highlights how Kirkland has expanded its use of aerial technology since launching a public safety drone program in 2022. Managed centrally across the city’s Police, Fire, and Public Works departments, the program maintains five aircraft and 17 FAA-licensed pilots specifically trained for tactical searches, search-and-rescue missions, and scene documentation.
Police recommend that if a bobcat enters your home, move people and pets away from the area and call 911.
