A Cape Elizabeth resident who lives in the Fowler Road area claims to have seen a Canadian lynx in her backyard.

Animal Control Officer Stan Brown said a person could mistake a lynx for a bobcat, which is much more common in the area, but he said the woman is very confident in the identification. As far as Brown knows, a lynx has never been reported in the area.

The resident has not been able to prove the existence of the lynx in the area, but Brown plans to install an electronic camera on the edge of her woods within a week to try to get some pictures.

If the existence of a lynx is proven, Brown said people with cats and small dogs should not let them out alone. The reason a lynx would migrate this far south would be to follow the food, Brown said. They eat smaller animals, like rabbits and mice, and would also feed on fresh roadkill, he said.

Brown, whose position is split between Cape and South Portland, said the Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife Services would be responsible for deciding what to do if a lynx were discovered roaming the woods of Cape Elizabeth.