URBAN
BOBCAT
FAQ
Lately we've seen some concern about bobcats being seen in our community. Maybe you've seen one yourself and
are concerned for your safety, or that of your pet? Rest assured, bobcats do not attack people. In fact, according to
the DFW Wildlife Coalition, “bobcat attacks [on people] are virtually unknown.”
Bobcats, like coyotes and other urban wildlife, are "opportunistic” eaters, meaning they will take the food that is
easiest to get. Pet food left unattended outside is the easiest source of food for them. According to the DFW
Wildlife Coalition website, “They also eat mice, rats, squirrels, chickens, wild birds, and rabbits. It’s very unlikely,
but possible, that free-roaming cats or small dogs left outside unattended might be taken as well”, though, we
would urge you to take precautions with small pets. Cats should be kept indoors and small dogs should not be left
out unsupervised.
Most importantly, please be sure that you are not accidentally and unknowingly encouraging bobcats and other
wild animals to live near your home 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, or leaving wood piles or dense vegetation to
provide hiding places for wildlife.
It's important to note that trapping and removal of bobcats will not work. Why?
• 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.
• 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 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.
• Trapping and removing animals does 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.
• 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.
Predatory wildlife, including bobcats, exist to preserve the balance of nature, and that’s important. 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.
If you have any questions, or need further information, please feel free to reach out to us on Facebook
@DallasAnimalServices or here on Nextdoor.com via private message.
Thank you, Dallas Animal Services
Source: DFWWildlife.org, Texas Parks & Wildlife