Black bobcat snared in N.B., only 12th ever recorded in North America

A New Brunswick trapper snared something unexpected on Christmas Day a rare melanistic bobcat.

Studies indicate only one other black bobcat has been caught in Canada.

"Ithoughtit was a housecat," saidOswald McFadden, who has run the same trapline for the last decade.

"When I saw the tail I knew it wasn't ahouse cat. Then I looked at the ears, I knew it wasdefinitelya bobcat."

Melanism is a genetic trait that displays a black-coloured pigment and can often befound inspecies like squirrels andjaguars.

Much likejaguars, thisbobcat'sspots and markings can still be seenin bright lights.

"It's a soft andbeautifulcoat," saidMcFadden.

"I've been in these woods all my life and never seen anything like this."

According to the1995 paper, A Melanistic Bobcat from Outside Florida,written by JayTischendorfand Donald McAlpine, the onlyother case ofmelanism found in a Canadian bobcat was dated in November 1983.

Theblack male bobcat was trapped nearHenry Lake and is nowmounted at the New Brunswick Museum.

The article says only 10 other melanistic bobcats haveever been recorded all found in Florida.

"The only way it could have been better is if my two daughters would have been with me," said McFadden.

"They usually are but it was Christmas so I guess I can't blame them for that."

McFadden's pictures of thebig cat have been shared thousands of times online.

It's gotten to the point where American hunters are claiming the animal was caught in states likeVirginia andPennsylvania.

"It's weird the way the internet works," said McFadden.

"But this was herebasicallyin my own backyard where I live and grew up."

The cat was already dead when McFadden checked his trap, but when asked if he would have fired if he had found it in his rifle sight, he said it's possible.

"I don't know, I can't answer that," said McFadden. "An albino deer, I saw one last year andI didn'tshoot it, so?"

McFaddenmightdonatethe animal to a museum, sell it, or mount it for himself.

So far he's had offers from those willing to purchase the carcass worth $1,000, or in exchange for a guided bow-hunting trip to hunt elk.