Residents of Hoffman Estates, a suburb northwest of Chicago, were startled by the sight of a wild cat roaming their neighborhood.<\/p>\n
After being spotted multiple times, local authorities managed to capture the elusive animal on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Using a pole with a cord, they were able to lasso the caracal from under a resident\u2019s deck.<\/p>\n
The capture took place allegedly without harm to the animal, and officials confirmed that the caracal would soon be transported to a Wisconsin animal sanctuary where they will live a safe and healthy life.<\/p>\n
According to the police, this will ensure the large cat is \u201cfar away from Hoffman Estates.\u201d<\/p>\n
The caracal was first seen in the area about a week before their capture. Jan Hoffman-Rau, a local resident, recounted her close encounter with the animal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen it starts coming up on my deck, jumped on my deck, actually looked at me through the window,\u201d she told WBBM-TV, recalling the surprise of seeing the wild cat in her own backyard.<\/p>\n
Caracals, which are native to regions including Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, typically hunt small mammals, rodents, and birds.<\/p>\n
How this particular caracal ended up in suburban Illinois remains a mystery.<\/p>\n