By Graydon Webb

According to several reports around social media, it seems there may be some unnerving visitors in the area: bobcats! While it may seem like a creature such as this would be out of place in your town, wildlife experts say bobcats can be seen all across Massachusetts. In fact, they’re the only wild cat species still present in the state! In order to stay safe this winter, we wanted to give you some quick tips that could keep you - and especially your pets - out of a bobcat’s way!

First of all, you should be able to identify a bobcat in your area! According to Mass.Gov, bobcats “can be easily identified by [their] short, “bobbed” tail (up to 12 inches).” Their coats vary in shades of brown with black spots, and their adult size can be anywhere from 28-47 inches in length. The website also states, “male bobcats are approximately 33% larger than their female counterparts,” so size can certainly vary!

Bobcats are probably more common around this time as we are nearing their mating period. From February to March, the cats tend to mate and pretty soon, they’ll produce offspring in April or May. Bobcats make their habitats in rocky crevasses and hollow trees, looking for damp, dark areas to make their home and females may use the same den sites for several years in a row.

So, what can you do to stay safe during this time? Fortunately, bobcats don’t tend to pose much harm to humans, or even domesticated pets. These cats prefer smaller prey like rabbits, possums, and the occasional bird. That being said, bobcats do have a history of attacking livestock, so it is advised by Mass.Gov to “avoid pasturing animals or placing coops in remote areas or in areas near heavily wooded cover.” As long as pens have the right protection - such as thick wire fencing - they should be just fine.

Bobcats can be active at any time of day, but they’re most often seen around dusk and dawn. Their tracks look quite similar to domestic cats, which can make it harder to determine if they’re in the area or not. They’re also great climbers, with an excellent sense of smell, sight, and hearing. Thankfully, according to the MSPCA, “they are shy and solitary animals,” and if you lock up your trash properly and keep a good eye on your pets when they go outside, chances are you’ll never have a bad encounter with a bobcat.

But still, it can be a bit of a shock to see them in the area. So, how can you help out the community if a bobcat does cross your path? Well, sharing pictures to social media does help to raise awareness. You can also contact your local animal control office, so they know of bobcats in the area. This can help them track its movement as well!

We spoke with a representative from Mass Audubon Northeast, Jonathan Davis, and he informed us that “bobcats have big territories and will cover as much as four miles in a single day.” Outside factors like habitat loss and even automobile collisions have actually made bobcat appearances more rare in the area, and Davis says “they really require a large amount of conservation land to thrive,” which also affects their movement patterns.

As previously stated, bobcats rarely cause any harm to humans and are, in fact, quite skittish. Humane World for Animals tells us that, should a bobcat cross your path, “be big and scary: Raise your arms over your head, yell or blow a whistle.” Make a lot of noise as you move toward them slowly, and this will scare them off. Of course, this action should only occur if you encounter the animal in the wild, like on a walk, for example. When dealing with bobcats in general, Jonathan Davis reminds us, “give wildlife space if you encounter one, and don’t approach.”

We hope these tips and factoids will help calm your nerves about bobcat sightings in the area. Remember, as long as you keep an eye on your pets, dispose of trash properly, and secure livestock as best as you can, these wild cats will remain nothing but tracks in the snow!

If you’re interested in more information on bobcats, you can find some resources from Mass Audubon at https://www.massaudubon.org/nature-wildlife/mammals-in-massachusetts/bobcats.