Bobcat Treatment
How Do I Identify A Bobcat Problem?
Appearance - Bobcats are typically about 3 feet long from nose to tail tip, about one and a half to two times the size of a common domesticated cat. They stand approximately 14 inches tall at the shoulder, and range in weight from 15 to 30 pounds. Bobcat coats can be a range of brown colors, from grayish to reddish with dark spots.
Behavior - You may be living near a bobcat and not even know it. Bobcats will not enter human habitations and are by nature nocturnal loners; they are rarely seen in Local, making bobcat removal difficult. With this being said, you may find that your only sign of a bobcat problem is harmed or dead animals on your property and physical signs like track marks. Bobcat prints do not show claw marks.
Bobcats are predators that eat mammals, birds, and reptiles. They will readily eat rats, mice, and rabbits. Bobcats have been known to prey on domesticated pets.
Why Could I Have A Bobcat Problem?
If you have a chicken coop, or house cats or small dogs that are often outside at night, your home could be a target. Bobcats do not hunt in packs and tend to only be out at night, so leaving your pets outside is risky and could be attracting a bobcat without you realizing it.
Additionally, if you have visitors like white-tailed deer, rabbits or feral cats who are frequent visitors to your property, you are at risk of having a problem with bobcats seeking food.
Bobcats are known to be opportunistic predators, meaning that once they have found of way of quickly obtaining prey, they will settle into that area and become repeat visitors.
Why Should I Treat My Bobcat Problem Immediately?
Bobcats will normally never attack humans due to their fear and the size difference, but will potentially attack your house pet. Keep small dogs and house cats indoors at night because this could lead to harm or death of your beloved pet and can be attracting the bobcat to your property. Once bobcats have made a home, they are known for making their way back there, thus making bobcat removal and relocation in difficult.
If you have any suspicion that there may be a bobcat on or near your property, it is best to call a professional to assess the situation and look for signs of a bobcat presence. Bobcat removal should only be handled by a local wildlife removal professional.
How to Get Rid of Bobcats
Bobcats have a surprisingly large range. They are North America's most widespread cat. You will find bobcats in 47 states and even in Canada and Mexico. The bobcat is a medium-sized cat. Males weigh between 14-40 pounds and females range from 9-33 pounds. They primarily hunt rabbits, birds, deer, and small rodents.
Because bobcats are found all over the United States, there are likely some in your area. You will rarely see them. They are nocturnal and extremely shy of humans. These wild predators are capable of killing pets and causing havoc. You don't want them in your yard.
How Do I Spot a Bobcat Problem?
The biggest issue with bobcats is that they are extremely hard to spot. Bobcats, like most cats, are nocturnal. They are also quite frightened of humans. If you do spot one—it will look like an extremely large housecat with tufts of hair on the side of its face—you know you have a problem.
Other signs of a bobcat in the area include
- Seeing scat.
Bobcat scat is often confused with coyote scat. The two are similar, except bobcat scat is more rounded and less ropey than coyote scat. - Seeing tracks.
Bobcat tracks look like tracks made by a housecat. They will just be larger. The rule of thumb for determining which type of feline made a track is that a housecat's track will be 1 inch in diameter, a bobcat's track will be 2 inches in diameter, and a mountain lion's track will be three inches in diameter. - Seeing carcasses killed by a bobcat.
Animals that have been killed by a bobcat will have claw marks on the back or shoulders. The cut marks will have clean edges, not the ragged edges of coyotes.
How Do I Get Rid of Bobcats?
Admittedly, being an expert in bobcat signs takes some effort. When you are less like to see the animal, it is harder to know it is in the area. The good news is that bobcats are solitary animals. If you notice signs of a bobcat—unless it is a female with a baby—it will likely be alone.
This doesn't mean you should take no steps towards keeping the bobcat out of your yard. The following tips will help you control your bobcat problem.
- Use motion-activated deterrents.
Motion-activated lights or sprinklers could scare the bobcat away. They are likely to keep the bobcat from reentering your yard as well. - Make loud noises.
Bobcats are similarly scared of loud noises. An air horn or even radio set up outside could keep them out of your yard. - Keep pet food and water indoors.
Bobcats would love to take advantage of easily accessible food and water. By keeping your pet's food and water indoors, you will make your yard less appealing. - Contact a bobcat removal company.
Finding a company that specializes in bobcat removal can be tough. That's why we at GoLocal Pest Control can help. We have the resources you need to find the best bobcat removal services in your area.
How to Prevent Bobcats
Bobcats are very shy animals. It is unlikely that you will ever see them in your yard. But, if you notice bobcats signs, then there is likely one living nearby. Bobcats are a predator and will eat many small animals like mice, squirrels, chickens, cats, and rabbits. Some bobcats have been known to kill small dogs as well.
You don't want a bobcat to set up shop in your backyard. Here are a few ways to prevent this wild animal from becoming a problem.
Why Do I Have Bobcats?
Bobcats can have a large territory, depending on their sex. A male bobcat's territory typically extends for 25-30 square miles. Female bobcats have a smaller territory of five square miles. Both male and female bobcats will build several dens throughout their territory.
Because of the way their territory works, you may not have a bobcat problem all the time. The animal may just pass through your yard during certain seasons or times of the month. Yet, knowing what attracted the bobcat to your yard, is the first step to preventing it from coming back.
- Your yard provides food.
Bobcats are not picky about the small animals they hunt and kill. It doesn't matter if you have a rodent problem or if you keep chickens, you may be attracting bobcats. - Your yard provides water.
Bobcats also need water. They try to keep water sources in their territory. Pools, ponds, birdbaths, and even water dishes for your pets are a great source of water for your bobcat. They will keep the bobcat coming back for more. - Your yard provides shelter.
Because bobcats build multiple dens, they are always on the lookout for the next great location. They like small spaces for making dens. Under decks, in thick brush, or even rooftops can be good dens for bobcats.
How Do I Prevent Bobcats?
Bobcats rarely seek out or hurt humans. But they can be a menace to pets and farm animals. You do not want this wild animal in your yard. Luckily, there are a few fool-proof ways of preventing them.
- Use loud noises or a garden hose to scare off a bobcat you see.
You will rarely see a bobcat. But if you do, try scaring it off with loud noises. You can also spray it with a garden hose. If neither option works, go inside and contact the nearest animal control office. - Keep your small pets in at night and all chickens, fowl, or rabbits in a secure location.
Bobcats are nocturnal. If there is less food available in your yard at night, they will likely move on. You cannot secure all rodents and wild animals. However, small pets and small farm animals like chickens should be put up at night. - Do not leave your pet food or water outside.
Unattended pet food and water are a great way to attract a bobcat to your yard. Keep it inside when your pet is inside. This will help prevent bobcats and other unwanted pests. - Contact a good exterminator.
GoLocal Pest Control can help you find bobcat specialists in your area. Just put your zip code in our database, and you will have lots of results to choose from. Bobcats are a serious problem. Let the experts help you keep them out of your yard for good.
What Do Bobcats Look Like?
Bobcats live throughout the contiguous United States, Canada, and even parts of Mexico. Because they are feral, you are not likely to see a bobcat. But occasionally sightings do occur.
Bobcats can be a pest and dangerous to small pets and farm animals like chickens. You don't want bobcats in your yard. The best way to stop a bobcat from setting up shop is to correctly identify it. Bobcats are not that much larger than domestic cats. If you don't know what sets them apart, you may misidentify them.
How Many Species of Bobcats Are There?
Bobcats are native to North America. They are not found anywhere else in the world. However, it is closely related to the lynx. In fact, the Eurasian lynx, Spanish lynx, Canadian lynx, and bobcat are the four members of the Lynx genus.
Although there are only one bobcat species, there are twelve subtypes. The major difference between these types is their range. For example, L. rufus floridanus only lives in Florida. Other bobcat subtypes include L. rufus baileyi, L. rufus californicus, L. rufus escuinapae, L. rufus fasciatus, L. rufus gigas, L. rufus oaxacensis, L. rufus pallescens, L. rufus peninsularis, L. rufus rufus, L. rufus superiorensis, and L. rufus texensis.
What Do Bobcats Look Like?
Once you know what to look for, you will see that bobcats have some very distinctive features. This wild cat varies a lot in size. Most adults will be from 18-49 inches long. They are usually between 12-24 inches tall. Male bobcats weigh between 14-40 pounds and females can weigh from 8-33 pounds. The average male bobcat weighs 21 pounds, while the average female weighs 15 pounds. As you can tell, this is quite a bit larger than domestic cats, who tend to weigh around 10 pounds on average.
The main distinctive feature of the bobcat is its "bobbed" tail. Like lynxes, but unlike other cats, a bobcat has a very short tail. Most tails are only three to eight inches long. That gives it the appearance of being bobbed or cut short.
Most bobcats are tan or grey/brown. They have black stripes on their body, legs, and tail. Many bobcats will have a white undercarriage, lips, and chin. The exact shade of their coat depends on their location. Forest-dwelling bobcats in the north tend to have darker coats than bobcats that live in the desert.
Bobcats also have a wide-looking faces. This occurs because of the tufts of hair that extend below their ears. These tufts are much less large than those of its cousin the Canadian lynx.
Bobcats are nocturnal, so it is unlikely one will enter your yard during the day. They are not aggressive towards humans and mainly eat rabbits, rodents, chickens, and other small animals. If you have small pets and bobcats live in the area, you should not let your pets out at night. Sometimes bobcats will build their nests in people's yards, though. If this happens to you, you need a good bobcat removal company. At GoLocal Pest Control, we can help you find the top one in your location.
How to Find an Exterminator to Help with Bobcats
Bobcats are a fearsome predator. The good news is that they are extremely shy and will not attack humans. However, they will not hesitate to hunt small animals, including pets. They are also an extremely annoying poultry pest.
Bobcats are nocturnal, which along with their shyness can make it hard to spot them. They are typically solitary, unless you have a mother hanging around. So, one bobcat constitutes an infestation.
It is better to not let bobcats live in your yard. This is especially true if you have small animals on your property. The best thing you can do is call an exterminator the minute you see signs of a bobcat problem.
What Should I Look for in a Bobcat Exterminator?
Bobcats are common all over the United States. However, they are not a common pest for most exterminators. It may take a little while to find an exterminator that specializes in bobcat removal. The following questions can help you determine if a particular company will work for your bobcat problem.
- What is your experience with bobcat removal?
- When is the last time you treated a bobcat problem?
- How will your team remove the bobcat safely?
- Is the bobcat likely to return?
- How long before I will see results?
What Should I Expect from Bobcat Exterminators?
Once you have found the right bobcat exterminator, it is time to begin treatment. Bobcats are notoriously hard to spot and trap. But there are still measures the exterminator can take to keep bobcats out of your home.
- The technician will begin with an inspection.
They will determine where the bobcat is entering your yard. If the bobcat has a den nearby, they will also attempt to find it. - After the inspection, the technician will discuss treatment options with you.
They may attempt to trap and relocate the bobcat. Other, often more successful, treatments include removing the bobcat's food source. This may mean the technician exterminates rodents and other wildlife that the bobcat eats. They may also suggest fencing or other prevention measures with you. - Finally, the technician may request a follow-up appointment.
This appointment will help them determine if the bobcat treatment is working or if more measures need to be taken.
How Do I Find an Exterminator to Help with Bobcats?
Bobcats are a surprisingly widespread problem in the United States. However, you need to work with an exterminator that specializes in this large pest. The best companies to help with your bobcat problem are local ones. They will treat your situation like the unique problem it is. There are no cookie-cutter plans with local exterminators.
If you are looking for the best exterminator in your area, you need to try GoLocal Pest Control. Our fully vetted, quality, and qualified exterminators can be found all over the country. No matter where you live, we can point you to the top bobcat removal professionals. Contact us today to learn more.