Bobcat spotted hunting in Topeka, is it dangerous?

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Local Robin Wikle spotted a larger-than-normal feline walking around her home last week in east Topeka.

Wikle spotted the big cat walking through her yard on June 16 in the area near the intersection of SE 21st Street and SE Wittenberg Road. Wikle said this was the first time in a few years that one of the cats had been seen in the area and posted a warning to local pet owners on social media.

27 News reached out to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) to find out if local homeowners should be concerned. KDWP Wildlife Research Biologist Matt Peek said in a written statement that people should not worry about finding a bobcat in the area.

“Bobcats pose no threat to humans, including small children,” Peek said. “However, they will prey on cats and small (feline) dogs, and people are generally advised to take the same precautions with their pets as they do when coyotes are around. Bobcats will also prey on poultry if given the opportunity, with complete enclosure or presence while allowed to roam freely being the best solution. These are precautions that many are probably already taking to protect poultry from coyotes or red foxes.”

Bobcats are about three to four times larger than the average domestic cat and can weigh about 30 pounds. You can tell them apart from domestic cats or mountain lions by looking at their short, black-tipped tails or their spotted coat.

“Misidentification with mountain lions is quite common because many people significantly overestimate the weight of bobcats by applying pet weight to bobcat size, and they also expect bobcats to be spotted more visibly than most people, Peek said.

Peek said you don’t have to report bobcat sightings to authorities like the KDWP because they are a native species found throughout the Sunflower State. If you see one in your area, in most cases you don’t need to take any action.

“Bobcats have become common suburban and even urban wildlife in recent years, and sightings are especially common in the summer months, when shady, manicured yards provide a much more comfortable resting place than heavily overgrown timber or unmaintained lawns that using them to better avoid detection from other animals. times of the year,” Peek said. “Security cameras and doorbells now also provide detections all year round.”

Bobcats typically focus on hunting rabbits, squirrels, birds, rats and mice in the wild. By maintaining your yard and avoiding feeding wildlife, you can prevent bobcats from prowling your property. Most bobcats hunt between dawn and dusk.

To keep pets safe, Peek recommends keeping an eye on them outside, especially if they are small in size. Even fenced yards are not safe for pets to roam. A small and completely enclosed area in your yard is the best precaution against leaving your pet outside unattended.

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