Whoa! Is that a bobcat outside our back door?

Animals are plentiful in Arizona, and drawn to food, water sources

It’s not every day that we in the newsroom get a report of a bobcat sighting in the area. But that’s precisely what happened last week, when a gentleman from the Foothills reached out to us with a photo of his back porch visitor.

Bobcat sightings are not a common topic of conversation in Yuma, but the animals do exist, and have the potential to wander into local yards. That got us thinking — would you know how to identify a bobcat? And do you know what to do should a bobcat cross your path?

According to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, a bobcat’s defining feature is its short bobtail, which is 2-8 inches long.

A bobcat’s face is wide and flat, with longer fur on the cheek area, and its coloring can range from an orangish-brown to pale gray, the museum reports.

They tend to prefer rocky areas with plant cover, but can also be found in neighborhoods.

Their diet is all-meat, and usually, they prefer to eat rabbits. But other animals are fair game — and that includes domestic cats and small dogs

However, the Arizona Game and Fish Department website notes that bobcats are rarely a threat to people. They will visit residential areas to find food, water or shelter.

Small domestic animals like small dogs, cats, chickens and rabbits can be a draw for bobcats, as can water in pools, birdbaths, fountains or pet water dishes.

Game and Fish reports that it’s OK to enjoy watching a bobcat in your yard, but if you want to discourage it, make some noise — yell or blow a whistle, or spray it with a garden hose.

It’s very rare for a bobcat to bite a person or act aggressively toward a person, but if you should experience such a situation, call Game and Fish. If on the rare chance it should attack you, fight back, and seek medical attention.

Overall, bobcats are common in Arizona, especially when there are food sources available, but generally, they pose little danger to humans — although one should take steps to protect small animals.

They can be fun to watch, and are an amazing part of our desert landscape!

To learn more, visit https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife/livingwith/bobcats/

Unsigned editorials represent the viewpoint of this newspaper rather than an individual. Columns and letters to the editor represent the viewpoints of the persons writing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the Yuma Sun.