Photo by Laura Brokaw
Deer are plentiful, along with coyote, raccoon and even the occasional porcupine.
In December, Woodinville resident Laura Brokaw spotted a bobcat in her yard in the morning.
"I first thought it was a dog, a Labrador retriever," she says. "But then, I noticed that it had the black tipped tail and tufted ears. I looked at pictures on the Internet and confirmed that it was in fact a bobcat."
The creature hung around for a bit before leaving the premises.
Brokaw alerted her neighbor who has small pets and also decided to keep her young kids inside to be on the safe side.
Then just the other day, around noon, the local woman saw the bobcat again.
It was on top of her woodpile and eventually went behind a bush, but not before lowering its head and staring her down.
"I’m sure it was the same bobcat," comments Brokaw. "It definitely wasn’t skittish and it didn’t immediately run away when it saw me. It made me a little nervous because I know it’s a wild animal and you just don’t know what it will do."
According to Donny Martorello, wildlife manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, bobcats are plentiful in Washington, as they can live in most any forested environment.
"They’re very adaptable to changes in the environment that have been created by humans," he explains, "and often live around the fringes of development. Basically, they’re active in the early morning and then around dusk. They prey on small mammals, such as rabbits, mice, squirrels and other type game." He adds, "They’re secretive creatures and they’re solitary animals that hunt by stealth."
Martorello comments that bobcats do not typically present any danger to humans, as they seldom attack people. But, they can be a threat to small pets, particularly cats that run freely in wooded yards.
Should you encounter a bobcat, Martorello advises to give the animal a wide berth and make sure you don’t corner it or send your dog after it.
"Trapped animals can become aggressive," he says. "If the animal is a persistent presence and becomes bolder in its behavior, however, call us. Most often, the situation will sort itself out if you just let it be, but if you’re concerned then don’t hesitate to tell us."
Martorello adds that bobcat sightings mid day could be a result of people’s habits. In particular, he explains that sometimes people inadvertently leave food scraps outside or garbage cans overflow and the smell of food is a magnet to the animals.
He says the best way to deter a wild animal from taking up residence in your yard is to make sure you clean up around your house on a regular basis.
In some cases, however, it may be that the bobcat is young and not as savvy about its environment yet.
"Juveniles are still learning and they haven’t had enough experience to know they should avoid people," comments Martorello. "Use common sense," he adds. "With all wild animals, the rule is to leave them alone. Don’t approach them. Don’t ever feed them. And realize that if you live near a greenbelt, you’re going to have wildlife around. But, I think that’s a reason why many of us choose to live in these areas. We’re closer to nature."
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed