Apparently, we have a bobcat living across the road.

calico2222

calico2222

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And no, I don't mean a nice domesticated bobcat like John (AmberBobcat) has, I'm talking a real live wild bobcat! I shouldn't be surprised since we live in the woods and I've heard them....in the distance.

I haven't seen it, but DH and MIL both have heard it, and our nearest neighbor (1/2 up the dirt road) DID see it. DH was working on MIL's pool this morning and kept hearing a low growl. He thought it might be a bear, because it definitely wasn't a dog growl. The last one ended in a scream which is when he high tailed it out of there! Later MIL was in her front yard planting flowers along the dirt road when she heard a loud hiss. She said it was like someone really pissed a cat off....only a MUCH bigger cat than she would ever want to piss off! Needless to say, the remaining plants still need to be planted.

I mean, bobcats and cougars are on this mountain and in this area in general (I mean, this IS rural West Virginia), but I'm really not sure how dangerous they are to humans. My dogs are in a fenced in yard and only go out when we are here and all my kitties are inside, but I'm worried about the barn cats. They all came out when I put out their food but then went right back to their hiding places. Could she just be passing through? Anyone with experience in wild bobcats?
 
skippymjp

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Originally Posted by calico2222

And no, I don't mean a nice domesticated bobcat like John (AmberBobcat) has, I'm talking a real live wild bobcat! I shouldn't be surprised since we live in the woods and I've heard them....in the distance.

I haven't seen it, but DH and MIL both have heard it, and our nearest neighbor (1/2 up the dirt road) DID see it. DH was working on MIL's pool this morning and kept hearing a low growl. He thought it might be a bear, because it definitely wasn't a dog growl. The last one ended in a scream which is when he high tailed it out of there! Later MIL was in her front yard planting flowers along the dirt road when she heard a loud hiss. She said it was like someone really pissed a cat off....only a MUCH bigger cat than she would ever want to piss off! Needless to say, the remaining plants still need to be planted.

I mean, bobcats and cougars are on this mountain and in this area in general (I mean, this IS rural West Virginia), but I'm really not sure how dangerous they are to humans. My dogs are in a fenced in yard and only go out when we are here and all my kitties are inside, but I'm worried about the barn cats. They all came out when I put out their food but then went right back to their hiding places. Could she just be passing through? Anyone with experience in wild bobcats?
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We have a large female that lives in the area. She apparently has a really large range, covering most of the knobs and the river bottoms in the area, several hundred acres. We will only see her a few times a year, but will hear her some nights. She doesn't bother the cats that live across the road at Pos' "Kitty Hilton", but they may just know to stay away from her. I've been within 100 feet of her, and she just gave me an over the shoulder look and sauntered into the woods.

The funny part is, when we DO hear her in the area, I'll find anywhere from 1 to 5 of the neighborhood dogs cowering on my deck.
 
mrblanche

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We have them all over her in Texas...but not in the city, usually. (Coyotes are the problem here.)

My brother has seen a lynx in our front yard up in the woods in Arkansas.
 
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calico2222

calico2222

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Originally Posted by Skippymjp

We have a large female that lives in the area. She apparently has a really large range, covering most of the knobs and the river bottoms in the area, several hundred acres. We will only see her a few times a year, but will hear her some nights. She doesn't bother the cats that live across the road at Pos' "Kitty Hilton", but they may just know to stay away from her. I've been within 100 feet of her, and she just gave me an over the shoulder look and sauntered into the woods.

The funny part is, when we DO hear her in the area, I'll find anywhere from 1 to 5 of the neighborhood dogs cowering on my deck.
Click to expand...
So, it's nothing to really be worried about, right? I mean, I know they are around here since most of the barn cats have bobcat in them but I've never had one this close to the house. If she's just wandering through, that's fine. I just wasn't sure what kind of danger she would be to the barn cats. But, they were smart and hid most of yesterday. Now, things seem to be back to normal.

MIL's reaction kind of freaked me out though. She isn't one to just pick up and run in the middle of something, but she said that hiss made her hair stand up on end.

I would LOVE to see it....at a distance, like through the window! What can I say, I'm a "city" girl where a groundhog is considered "wildlife".
 
catmom2wires

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Reminds me of our trip to Colorado a few summers ago. We were hiking a trail and came to a warning that mountain lions had been spotted in the area and to keep our daughter close by at all times, avoid running about, etc. We continued down the trail and at one point were overcome with the heavy, strong scent of CAT SPRAY! BIG cat spray! Sure enough, on the side of a tree were deep scratches where the lion had used it for a scratching post. He'd obviously spray marked it, too, for good measure. We didn't ever see the lion, but I wonder if he saw us.
 
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