Bobcat Den & What to Do

[Carl_NH]

As I am writing this (wireless works to 300+'!!) I wait for the reemergence of the bobcat that has made a den behind the barn in an area several years ago we filled with rocks and stumps.

Earlier today the Bobcat and I stared each other down for 5 minutes then she disappeared. So I got the laptop and digital camera and setting up camp to capture a photo.. Have seen fox and coyote, here but this is the first bobcat, a very good looking cat I must say, almost looks like a nice pet. Here's a link to what I am speaking of Felis Rufus

The question is, should I dismantle the den with the BH and get rid of the cat? Or live and let live? We have two cats that have been indoor now for year since coyotes have been prevalent, so there is no immediate danger to our animals but to others in the neighborhood, I suppose fair game.

Anyone else have any experience with these big cats?

Carl

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Let it be unless it is a nusiance. I hate to bother animals as they are doing what is natural for them to do so unless it comes down to the point that their actions are detrimental to my animals or property then I leave them be. (they are fun to watch) I look forward to your pictures.

 

[DaveNH]

I cast my vote for "Live and let live"
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TresCrows]

Bobcats are fairly harmless. I would leave her and the kittens alone unless you have some good reason to worry and it does not sound like you do. I doubt she will bother other neighborhood cats or dogs or children. Bobcats are awfully small cats, not as if it were a mountain lion in your barn. She and the kittens will be gone before you know it. J

 

[Anonymous Poster]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Anyone else have any experience with these big cats? )</font>

They are really not that big. I would leave momma and the kits alone and enjoy them as much as possible.

SnowRidge

 

[Carl_NH]

Thanks guys for the advise and feedback on this. My wife feels the same, so we will enjoy them while they are here.

Regarding the size, when I say big cat, this is comparing to a large house cat - (we had an 18 LB all american) this is considerably bigger, about 18" tall and 28-30" long.

Very interesting to watch her yesterday, as I sat last evening for 1 1/2 hrs waiting for her to come back out - never did. Interestingly I weed wacked the brush in this area three weeks ago and no signs or disturbance, now the kits must be about since there is bare ground around the two entrances where they play.

I have the camera at ready, just want to catch them out one day soon and will post the photos.

Carl

 

[cowboydoc]

Definitely leave them alone. In most states it's against the law to harass them. Moving or disturbing their dens is considered harassment. If they do become a problem call the game warden in your area. They will remove them to a more remote location where they will be safe and out of the way.

We like them as they kill rodents by the 100's. They're better than 100 cats at ridding the area of mice, ground squirrels, etc.

 

[Carl_NH]

cowboydoc,

Was out this AM to catch a photo, no movement - its raining again, so she is staying dry..

Since our cats are inside for the last year, the chipmunk population has exploded here, must be 50-60 in and around the yard and woods. In fact 4-6 of them play within 5' of the den.

Our property is set in the woods, with the woods behind us being about 10-15 acres fronting the ocean marsh where deer and other animals frequent. Also, this might explain why we have no deer problem this spring, since every year in the past the hostas have been eaten down in ours and the neighbors yards. And I have not seen a deer track for several weeks, and the hostas are untouched..

There are some good side benefits it appears.

Carl

 

[TresCrows]

In all likelyhood as soon as the kittens are strong enough she will move them --- she may have already done so. I bet she and the kittens are gone. J

 

[gws]

Hmm, and I thought this was going to be about building a shed for a bobcat

 

[Anonymous Poster]

With that many chipmunks she might decide to stay. They are a rodent lover. If they stay you'll notice your rodent population wane significantly.


I bet she has a mate too and you just haven't seen him or you have and thought it was her. They mate for life.

On a seperate note.
I have two gopher tortoises living in my yard. They have been there about 10 years and we get along great. I even mow over their holes and they don't seem to mind. I do have to be careful, I really don't want to drop a wheel into one of them /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif . (the holes that is) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I thought the same thing at first. Glad to hear it wasn't just me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm happy to hear you're leaving them alone, too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Chief]

Bob cats are cool! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif They also keep rodents & pests under control. They sound like a woman screeming at night when the coon hound get one treed. I say live and let live. Post some pics if you can get some. Usually Bob Cats are very shy and rarely seen.

 

[knucklehead]

I'm surprised she's so close. I second the idea that she's probably gone already.

Attached is our "domestic bobcat" (Maine Coon/Persian mix) we recently had to say goodbye to due to heart failure - hardest one yet for my wife & she's already looking for a Tucker II.

 

[Chief]

Sorry to hear of the loss of such a cool cat. Bet none of the dogs messed with her ehh? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[knucklehead]

Nope....whether it was the 110 lb German Shepherd that stays with us once in a while, a buck in the back field, or a Fisher, Tucker didn't seem phased at all. But if you put a book or a sock in "His Chair", or there was a plant moved or the kids left the Playstation on the floor, and he came around the corner and encountered it, he'd growl and hiss like it was alive. We thought he'd developed cataracts, but it didn't keep him from bringing home his Supper 8 months out of the year. We never could figure out why he hissed at inanimate objects that were out of place, but it was fun to watch him crouch and stalk the deer. We always wondered what he would do if he caught it.

We got him from my brother & sister in law when he was about 9 because he could not be kept in a condo, and had him 7 years - he had pins in his shoulder from being run over, a constant drippy nose, a nasal-sounding breathing & heavy purr that was a result of a mysterious facial injury (we think some of the local gene pool in Haverhill, MA worked him over, but my brother could never prove it). He also snored. He didn't recognize property lines, and became our neighbors' cat as much as ours, always returning home a night after hunting a couple barns.

Never could figure out why some people don't like cats.......but I guess we all don't have the same color tractor, either. I didn't mean to hijack this thread, just got reminded of him, and my better half still walks over to the lilacs where he is a couple times a week. We'll have a couple new ones soon, when they come to us - we let our pets pick us.

 

[cstocks]

<font color="blue">we let our pets pick us.</font>

I hear you, Mark. We have four cats in the house and a couple of more outside and they ALL picked us! They done good, too, because we sure love all of them.

 

[Carl_NH]

knucklehead,

I think you and the others are correct, haven't seen any movement since returning from CA Friday night. I have met several coon cats and they are the some of the most relaxed cats around people (but can be distant too), so sorry to hear about the loss of Tucker.

Don't worry about changing the tone of thread, since it is not only about cats but animals in general. I grew up with 6-8 cats at any point in time on the farm (with 2500 chickens, 50 head of beef) so it doesnt matter the species, cat, dog, etc, all animals have a place in my mind.

What is interesting is the amount of wildlife that are part of our urban/rural environs today. 10 Years ago this area had few houses, now while still wooded, it has 2x the nimber of houses in the area and wildlife too.

We have deer, coyote, fox, snapping turtles, a resident hawk, baltimore oriles, an annual family of cardinals and an occasional vist by a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers ( they are great birds to watch) plus the requisite crow family in our area every day so we enjoy the woods and the local wildlife amidst the rural/urban setting we live.

Carl

 

[knucklehead]

Carl, thanks for the kind words.

Maybe I'll update this thread if there's an interesting story behind how we get another cat. Keep us updated on the den.

 

[jtn]

I am glad to hear you decided to leave "your" bobcat be and sorry to hear you have not seen her again. I enjoy the wild life out here in the country. I have a family of woodchucks and two families fo rabbits on my property. Unfortunately the fammily of rabbits is shrinking as my cats have killed and eaten two recently (they have a cat door in the house so I find the remains of a kill on the carpet). Even thought they are well fed and taken care of you can not change a hundred thousand years of instinct.

JT