CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WTVC) — Officials at a Chattanooga nature center say they now believe a bobcat fought back when criminals broke in and tried to steal her – and say she could be in the Lookout Mountain area.

Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center released a statement Thursday afternoon with the new developments. According to center officials, they believe the trespassers are young people who paddled in from Lookout Creek and then got onto their boardwalk and the native animal area.

The center believes the trespassers first tried to take their bald eagle, Flora Nooga. Bald eagles are federally protected migratory birds, and while she was unsettled by the intrusion, officials say the bird does not appear to have been hurt.

When that didn’t work, officials believe they moved on to Evi’s space.

“We originally presumed she had been trafficked for the illegal exotic animal trade,” said Reflection Riding officials in a statement Thursday, “We now believe Evi fought back against the criminals and was able to escape before she could be stolen. Federal law enforcement is now working the case alongside TWRA.”  FULL STORY HERE