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BOBCAT (Felis Rufus)
~Contributed by Kathy
Milacek
Part of the lynx family,
the bobcat
typically weighs between fifteen and forty pounds, and is common across
the entire United States. Although this cat is rarely seen in our cities
because of its shy, solitary, and reclusive nature, the urban population
has been increasing in the DFW Metroplex for many years. Local bobcats
tend to breed in February, bearing litters of two or three kittens in
April. The kittens’ eyes open at around ten days, and the mother bears
sole responsibility for their care.
Although people often mistake the bobcat for either a
domestic cat or a mountain lion, it actually looks quite distinct. Bobcats
are two or three times larger a typical domestic cat, but smaller than a
mountain lion. Another important difference is the mountain lion’s long
(not bobbed) tail. The bobcat’s coat tends to be a light brownish-blonde,
with dark spots on the flanks, legs and sides. Other distinguishing
features include tufted, pointed ears with large, black spots on the
backsides; a short, bobbed tail (4-6 inches in length); and rear legs
which are disproportionately longer than front legs.
What do
bobcats eat?
Bobcats eat a variety of
animal species, including mice, rats, squirrels, chickens, small fawns,
wild birds, feral cats, cottontail and rabbits. It’s very unlikely, but
possible, that free-roaming cats or small dogs left outside unattended
might be taken as well.
Many people
accidentally and unknowingly encourage bobcats and other wild animals to
live near their homes by leaving pet food outside, failing to pick up
fallen fruit from trees, leaving pets to roam outdoors unattended, leaving
bird seed on the ground, and leaving wood piles or dense vegetation to
provide hiding places for wildlife. Most urban wildlife is “opportunistic”
and “omnivorous,” meaning the animals will eat about anything (animal or
vegetable matter), and will take the food that is easiest to get. If pet
food is left outside, or even in a garage with a pet door entrance, wild
animals may find it easier to help themselves to pet food every night than
to hunt down rodents.
What
function do bobcats serve in our cities?
Many ecological studies
show that predatory wildlife, including bobcats, exists to preserve the
balance of nature. Wild animals help to keep rodent populations in check.
In the past, some cities have attempted to eradicate predators, but as a
result have seen an increase in rodent population, as well as rodent-borne
diseases. The ways of nature can sometimes seem cruel to us, but many
prey and rodent species would overrun both rural and urban areas, damaging
crops and vegetation, if their natural predators did not keep them in
check. Bobcats and other predators also consume carrion (dead animals),
and so provide us with free waste removal services.
Why not
trap and relocate bobcats to the country?
There
are many reasons why trapping and removal is not a long-term, viable
solution.
For instance: 
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If there is a litter of kittens, it’s difficult to trap and
relocate the entire family. If only the mother is trapped and removed, the
young are left behind to die of dehydration and starvation. If
the entire bobcat family is trapped, often the young are too small to
travel with the mother and are left behind when the mother is released at
a new location. When this happens, the young will either die or have to be
taken to a wildlife rehabilitator. Although a rehabilitator would care for
the kittens for upwards of six months, it should be noted that
professional wildlife rehabilitation cannot replace the skills the natural
mother would teach her young.
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Most DFW Metroplex animal control agencies were originally
created to deal with problems arising from stray dogs and cats, and to
enforce laws pertaining to pets. Wildlife is often only included in their
scope of services to a very small degree.
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Predator species, such as the bobcat,
establish and defend a territory. When such an animal is relocated to an
established territory, the defending (established) animal will attack -
potentially killing, injuring, or driving the relocated bobcat from its
new territory. An injured bobcat may not survive, since survival depends
upon the ability to hunt, capture and kill prey.
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A wild animal that lives within the boundaries of a city
and has lived its life as a scavenger may not have adequate hunting
skills, and therefore may not be able to survive without the opportunistic
foraging of outdoor pet food, plentiful rodents, backyard fruit,
vegetables, and trash of its urban upbringing. Wildlife studies show that
urban wildlife learn survival skills for urban living, and country
wildlife learn survival skills for country living; they do best when left
in the environment for which they have developed survival skills.
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Wildlife disease is another factor. Wild predators in urban
settings may have been exposed to diseases associated with domestic pets,
which could be transmitted to other wildlife not normally exposed to these
threats.
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Trapping and removing animals has done nothing to correct
the human equation. The cycle of imbalance will continually repeat itself,
at great cost to the community, if people fail to change their own habits
and environments.
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Recommended
long term solutions for homeowners involve modification of the premises.
Address the factors that attract wild animals, such as gaps in
construction that allow access to the attic or under the deck; eliminate
thick undergrowth in landscaped areas. Modification to the environment
creates an inhospitable atmosphere, and will encourages wild animals to
relocate. Such changes will prevent roaming wildlife from showing an
interest in staying on your property. Relocating animals, on the other
hand, simply leaves a "vacancy sign," inviting other wild animals to move
in. The belief that the solution is to remove and relocate animals is like
assuming that if you moved out of your home, no one would move in.
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Some laws (depending on species and/or city) require that
trapped animals be euthanized.
I'm
worried about my children
. . . Perhaps
you have seen a bobcat in your neighborhood. Rest assured, bobcats do not
attack people. In fact, bobcat attacks are virtually unknown; however, no
one should ever attempt to touch or handle a wild bobcat or her kittens.
Bobcats weigh between 15-40 pounds, which makes them small-to-medium sized
carnivores. Coyotes weigh slightly more, but also stay under 40 pounds in
the DFW Metroplex area. Carnivore biology studies show that carnivores in
this weight range take prey that is “much smaller” then themselves.
In the U.S. there are approximately 3-5 million people
attacked by domestic dogs every year, averaging 20 deaths per year. A
child is much more likely to be hurt by a domestic dog then a bobcat – or
a coyote. In fact, statistics prove that your family dog or your
neighbor’s dog is a hundred times more likely to kill someone then a
coyote or bobcat.
I'm
worried about my pets . .
.
Here's how you can protect your pets from
bobcats and other wild animals:
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Always walk your dog on a leash.
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Always
keep pets vaccinated as some wildlife are susceptible to
diseases transmissible to dogs and cats, i.e. feline panleukopenia
(feline parvo), canine distemper, and rabies.
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Take steps to ensure you are not attracting predators to
your yard – clean up brushy areas or woodpiles, and remove any food
sources.
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Do not allow cats to roam free outdoors. Some cities
have laws against free-roaming cats. Cats prey on many wildlife
species, i.e. songbirds, face many dangers outside, and can attract
predatory wildlife to your yard, as well.
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Avoid bushy areas or paths near abandoned properties.
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If you notice a coyote or bobcat in your area, never let
it go by without scaring it. Yell or clap loudly to scare wildlife
away; carry something with you to make noise, i.e. an air horn, or
something to throw, like a rock or baseball. In the long run it’s much
safer for us, our pets, and the wildlife as well – if they remain
fearful of humans.
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Never encourage or allow your pet to interact or “play”
with wildlife.
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Make sure your fence is in good repair.
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Do not leave pets unattended outdoors.
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Remove food sources, i.e. fallen fruit, food refuse, pet
food.
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Small mammals such as opossums, raccoons, and skunks, are
not a threat to domestic pets. In fact, it is usually the other way
around, as such animals are often the victims of dog attacks.
Is it
okay to put out food for wildlife?
Do not put out food for wild animals, except for birds and
squirrels. Deliberate feeding of wildlife puts you, your pets, your
neighbors, and even the wildlife at risk. Observing wildlife is a
wonderful way to interact with nature; however, the experience can turn
unpleasant or dangerous when well-meaning people feed wildlife.
Intentional feeding can make wildlife unnaturally bold, and will lead to
conflicts. It is necessary for wild animals to remain fearful of humans.
Feeding of wildlife may seem like a positive way to interact, but what may
start out as three cute, juvenile opossums can turn into twenty raccoons,
ten opossums, and five feral cats. This creates an unnatural situation in
which wildlife become less fearful of humans, become habituated to a free
handout, can spread disease to each other as they eat in close contact,
can attract other predatory wildlife to the feeding location, and can
cause conflict with neighbors who do not appreciate the nightly wildlife
buffet line going through their yards. Feeding wild animals does much more
harm than good.
Feeding wildlife is not only highly discouraged, but is
also illegal in some cities. Wildlife can become too comfortable and lose
fear of humans if food is intentionally provided for them. Wildlife that
lose their fear of humans can become dangerous to the feeder, as well as
to the surrounding residents. This can result in conflict that ends with
the wildlife being trapped and euthanized because of the perceived threat
to the community once they lose their fear of humans or begin to feed in
large numbers. In addition, feeding wildlife encourages them to reproduce
in greater numbers than the habitat can support. For all these reasons,
and for the public and wildlife’s long-term safety, no one should
intentionally feed wild animals. If you have been feeding and need to
stop, it’s best to gradually reduce the amount of feeding over a period of
a month. In this way, wildlife that have become accustomed to an
unlimited, easy food source can gradually disperse and locate naturally
occurring food sources.
How can
I discourage bobcats from coming into my yard?
Bobcats are quiet, shy and reclusive – usually seen by
themselves or a female with kittens. Typically, it is easy to persuade
them to leave. We recommend the use of deterrents and adjustments around
the exterior of your home (all endorsed by the Humane Society of the
United States) for making your yard and home less inviting to wildlife.
Try these tactics:
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Use noise and/or motion-activated deterrents to make a
bobcat uncomfortable.
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Try an air horn or motion-activated sprinkler; bang pot
lids together, or put a radio outside set to a news or talk channel.
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Clear any excess vegetation to remove secluded hiding
spots.
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Do not leave pet food or water outside when your pet is
indoors.
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Pick fruit from trees as soon as it ripens and pick up
all fallen fruit.
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If you feed the birds or squirrels, ensure there is no
overflowing bird seed on the ground to attract rodents at night, or
restrict feeding. Bobcats can be attracted to the squirrels and birds
that come to our yards to feed.
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Use fencing to deter bobcats. Fencing must be at least
six feet high with the bottom extending 6-12 inches below ground level.
Add an angle at the top facing outward at 45 degrees, and 16 inches in
width.
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Do not leave small pets outdoors unattended or in a
poorly-enclosed yard.
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If you have chickens or fowl, ensure they are put up at
night.
In
conclusion,
urban
sprawl in the DFW Metroplex continues, and our presence provides wild
animals with all they need in order to survive and thrive: an urban
ecosystem with plenty of food, water, and shelter. We need to be
responsible for our behavior. We’re here to stay, and so is the wildlife!
Conflicts will continue, but you can do a lot to reduce them.
Changing the behavior of wildlife requires changing our own
behavior. Use deterrents, scare tactics, exclusion methods, and other
negative conditioning to change the environment, and you'll force wild
animals to change their behavior as well. By reducing factors that attract
wild animals to your yard, you will soon train area wildlife to avoid
humans - and that will be safer for all of us in the long run.
Additional Information on Bobcats:
