Our friendly neighbors, the Bobcat family
As a wildlife enthusiast I would like
to share some knowledge regarding the correct procedure when a bobcat is
discovered on your property. Following these steps will ensure a positive
experience if this event should ever occur.
1.
Slowly back away from the window or glass door
so as not to be seen.
2.
Walk quickly to the
nearest camera available in the house.
3.
Return to the
window or glass door and snap as many pictures as possible.
4.
Share photos of
your unique experience with friends and relatives.
If you are outside when this beautiful
animal appears be still and enjoy this rare treasure as an amateur astronomer
appreciates a new comet. Being that
bobcats cover a 12 square mile territory and are secretive in nature this gem
may not be seen again for years.
“But what about the danger?” you may
ask. Would you want to be warned of
danger when you start your car, when a domestic dog approaches, or, heaven
forbid, another human. All of these
scenarios are far more dangerous statistically than a bobcat sighting. In fact there has not been a single human
death caused by a bobcat. For that
matter even coyotes have only one fatal incident ever, and that occurred in
Canada. Statistically speaking mosquitoes
are the second most dangerous animal worldwide with 3 million human deaths to
their credit each year. But they are
left in the dust by another more deadly animal, which only requires a look in
the mirror to identify.
Bobcats are an important part of our
ecology, feeding on rabbits, pack rats, mice, small birds, snakes and lizards. Their size ranges between 2 to 2.5 feet long,
and they weigh in at 12 to 30 pounds.
They are year round residents in our area but because of their secretive
nature are not usually seen. Kittens
are typically born between April and June and stay with their mother for seven
to 12 months. Now that’s a strong family
bond!
Pets can be protected from wildlife
such as bobcats, coyotes, and rattlesnakes by simply not leaving them outside
alone. This point is reiterated
consistently in the media but sometimes is not heeded. Bobcats, though cute, should never be kept
as a pet or treated like a pet, as with any wild animal. Finding a bobcat in your yard is a special
gift, an exciting event which shows the ecological richness of our area. I hope you enjoy their presence as much as I
do.
I would like to conclude by telling a story which happened back on Saturday, July 27th. We had our first real monsoon soaking and the birds were celebrating. I set out early for a bird survey of our area, and finished with awesome sightings of a Peregrine Falcon, Zone-tailed Hawk, Western Screech Owls, a Great Horned Owl, and Tropical Kingbirds, a bird whose northern range just touches southern Arizona. On the way home I walked through a remote part of our woods and was startled by a reddish animal scurrying up a tree directly in front of me. It was a young bobcat, who had tried to stay still until my approach came too close for comfort. I heard another rustle and the mother, who had been under the same tree, scampered off in a diagonal path away from me in an attempt to draw my attention from her youngster. I never felt threatened but wanted to assure them of my good intentions by walking a wide arc around the tree. At one point the branches cleared and I saw the kitten clearly. I took the opportunity to shoot some photographs at a distance with a technique called digiscoping. This picture exemplifies the cute yet wild nature of our most welcome neighbor, the bobcat. Thank you for supporting our unique wildlife community.
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| What a Purrfect picture of cuteness-Grrr! |
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