Bobcats are a common sight in and around southern Arizona and greater Tucson. In fact, Arizona is one of the few states where bobcats are comfortable living and raising their families in urban areas, around homes, businesses, golf courses, and resorts. Some resorts, for example, believe having a family of bobcats walk through their grounds adds to the allure of their property and their support of nature.
When bobcats, however, decide to have their young in close proximity to a home where there are young children, small dogs, or even in an attic, then 1st Response Wildlife is often called for a consult to determine if and how a business or homeowner should react. In some cases, there is no action required but, in other instances, an agreement is reached for the mother and kittens to be humanely live-trapped and safely relocated. The primary goal of a mother bobcat is to find a safe location to birth and raise her young to an age where they can fend for themselves. Choosing an attic, a protected area on a roof, a den in the desert above flood stage on the side of a wash, under a porch, or in a shed where there is an opening, are all pretty common locations chosen.
What follows is an extremely rare series of pictures and videos of a mother bobcat and her three kittens that had chosen a birthing location within 50 feet of the back door of a residence where three small children and two small dogs played and spent hours within a few feet of where the kittens were hidden. The mother instructed the kittens to remain hidden while she hunted for food but, the fact that children and pets could walk right up to the hiding place without knowledge of the kittens, placed them in some danger from a mother returning with food and possibly reacting in a protective way to their presence.
After a discussion with the homeowner, 1st Response Wildlife was contracted to live-trap, remove and relocate the family unit.
Here is a picture of the hidey-hole where the three kittens were hidden, safe from coyotes, other bobcats (usually male bobcats which might want to kill them in order to protect their territory), people, hawks, or even javelina.
Here is a picture of the first two bobcat kittens that were removed from the hidey-hole by 1st Response Wildlife using bite proof gloves.
After they were caught, the mother came back to check on their whereabouts and she was live-trapped as part of the process for family capture.
Here is a picture of the third bobcat kitten, again, captured with bite proof gloves after it came out and got itself isolated in a spot it could not get out of by itself. (note, even at this age, the size of the kitten's claws.)
Once the three kittens were caught, they were reunited with their mother in a large transfer enclosure complete with food and water-in preparation for transport to a safe location where they would be released, over a few days, back into the wild.
Here is a picture of the family, back together, in the transfer enclosure ready to be relocated.
Here is a picture of a safe location where the enclosure will be placed and then the mother will be allowed to search and find a new home to raise her young.
Here is a picture of the transfer enclosure with the family inside in the safe and protected location.
Here is a picture of the family inside the enclosure in their new location with the relocation process well underway.
1st Response Wildlife provides a humane service for live trapping and relocation of animals that are creating a safety issue or are causing a nuisance in and around someone’s property or business. In mid to late summer, fall and winter, for the most part, this entails capturing an individual Coatimundi, Raccoon, Bobcat, Ringtail, Opossum, Skunk, Coyote, or even a domestic animal, such as a cat or dog. These relocations are relatively straight forward because the individual animal is creating a problem and can be live-trapped and relocated miles from the property where it is creating a problem. In the case of a domestic animal, a trip to Animal Control for adoption is an immediate solution.
In the case of families of animals, however, relocation is not a simple, live-trap, transfer, relocate, and release situation. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is very clear on how it wants Licensed Wildlife Service Companies to handle family re-locations. Foremost, a consideration for the health and safety of all members of the family is paramount. They must stay together, be moved to a safe location in proximity to water, a food source, and, to a protected environment. The release process 1st Response Wildlife uses to ensure these guidelines are followed, happens over several days and the family has to be monitored and the mother allowed to become acclimated to the sights, sounds, smells and surrounding area. This is called a “soft release.”
For this family of bobcats, a “soft release” was planned and, for probably one of the “first times ever,” the activity and guidance of the mother bobcat was caught on camera and presented below. The family was moved to a safe location where food and water was presented for 3 days and then, on the third night, the door to the enclosure was left slightly ajar so the mother could explore the surrounding area, find a spot she felt comfortable moving the kittens to and then return and guide them to their new home.
A trail camera was set up to capture the mother in the process of relocating the family.
In the YouTube videos below, you can see this happen over time. In this first one you can see the mother outside the enclosure looking around, checking the area and, as she leaves the viewing area, probably checking for food sources such as pack rat nests etc.. (note how narrow her sides are-common for a nursing mother.)
After she has looked around, she returns and calls to the kittens. You can see the eyes of the kittens still in the transfer enclosure.
The first kitten is called, walks under the mother’s legs and they leave together. Looking inside the enclosure, you can see two sets of eyes remaining.
The mother returns and the second kitten leaves with her. Now, all you can see is just one set of eyes left in the enclosure.
The third and last kitten (curiously) comes out of the enclosure and walks to the right of the picture. The mother does not enter the picture here but, she does collect this third kitten and the relocation of the family is complete.
About an hour later, a Javelina enters the picture and thankfully the entire family has successfully relocated and is safe.
1st Response Wildlife uses this same process on other Wildlife families where the determination is made that relocation is in the best interest of the family and the particular area the mother has chosen to birth and raise them. Care is taken to ensure the safety of the family and the situation with the business or homeowner is satisfactorily addressed. This series of photographs and videos is unique because the actual relocation by the mother was captured in real time. It also demonstrates the care taken by 1st Response Wildlife and the mother bobcat in scouting and then safely finding an acceptable and safe location, following a proven process that ensures the bobcat family and, in this case, the homeowner are satisfied with the relocation.
If you would like help with any Nuisance animals, noises in your building, see or hear something in or around your home, business, or property and would like help identifying it, humanely removing it, with the assurance it will be relocated to live in a safe environment, please give 1st Response Wildlife a call to discuss your options.
Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife
Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517
Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), coyotes, snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, opossums, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), ringtails, exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517 Thanks!
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