State Game Warden Carlos Gomez said the woman didn’t heed advice. Jenks police and the city animal control officer were called to the scene.

“The animal control officer found the lady with the bobcat in her arms in her car,” Gomez said.

While she surrendered the cat to authorities, the woman allegedly told officials it bit her chin.

“That person, in essence, guaranteed its death by picking it up,” Gomez said.

He said that, by law, the animal must be euthanized to be checked for rabies. They woman may also be in danger.

“Now she’s faced with the possibility of all of those medical problems,” Gomez said.

He told FOX23 the bobcat did not act normal and appears lethargic and unresponsive.

“It should be recoiling in fear. It should be retreating to the back of the cage,” Gomez said.

He said that this should be a lesson to everyone to let wildlife be.

“There’s nothing wrong with being a Good Samaritan if you’re trained or you really know what you’re doing. If you don’t, you’re really risking your health or someone else you may care about by picking up a wild animal,” Gomez said.

The incident is under investigation. The state epidemiologist will check the cat for rabies.

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Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney — pictured during a hearing Monday, Dec. 15, 2025 — has cleared the way for Georgia's State Election Board to obtain Fulton ballots and other documents from the 2020 election. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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