Bangor Animal Control is continuing to investigate the mysterious disappearance of cats in Bangor’s Fairmount neighborhood, with officials saying multiple factors could be responsible for the recent uptick in unexplained vanishing felines—aside from wild predators.
Animal Control Officer for the Bangor Police Department Trisha Bruen told the Maine Wire on Monday that the recent wave of residents reporting their cats as missing began this summer, and is now close to 20 cases.
Residents in the neighborhood have been left perplexed by the sudden disappearance of their beloved pets, with some questioning whether wildlife is responsible due to the lack of remains or collars being found.
“We have not had much to go on. Various species of wildlife frequent the area. People are known to behave badly,” Bruen said, adding that the department is still investigating any leads they receive.
“Like any Maine community, Bangor has coyotes, foxes, fishers, eagles and owls within city limits,” Bruen said. “It is likely multiple species are responsible, as well as people.”
While Bruen said that in the past they have had cases of stolen cats that have been recovered, so far security cameras have not caught anyone stealing the cats — nor have the cameras shown any wildlife carrying the cats off.
The Bangor Animal Control Officer did say that she had spoken with one suspicious person who was reported to be cruising the neighborhood, but found that the individual was not involved with the disappearance of any of the cats.
“We are hopeful that a witness will come forward. As I said, I do believe multiple factors are responsible,” Bruen said.
“Unfortunately, the best I can do for any owner of an outdoor cat is to recommend they be kept inside,” she added. “Even after this case is resolved, the dangers of death by vehicle and death by predators, of all shapes and sizes, will persist.”
As domestic animals, cats do not fall under within the jurisdiction of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW).
However, MDIFW does not believe that wildlife is to blame for this “sudden surge of cats disappearing.”
“We do not believe that wildlife is responsible,” said MDIFW Communications Director Mark Latti. “The neighborhood has had foxes, coyotes and fisher there for years without incident, yet during this recent time period of about two months, 16 cats disappeared.”
“If it were wildlife-related, you would not have seen that sudden surge of cats disappearing,” Latti said.
