North Texans may have noticed a few more furry visitors lately. Bobcats and coyotes, long-time residents of the region, are appearing more frequently in neighborhoods. But there’s no reason to panic.
As development pushes into natural habitats, these wild animals are simply navigating their traditional territories alongside human communities — and enjoying the warmer winter.
Know Your Wildlife
Bobcats, carnivorous felines typically weighing 11 to 30 pounds, are roughly twice the size of the average house cat. Measuring 26 to 41 inches long with 4 to 7-inch tails, they are agile hunters but generally more afraid of humans than the other way around. Coyotes, while sometimes aggressive toward pets, rarely pose a threat to people, including children.
These creatures are often more scared of you than you are of them. But remember: just because they’re cute and fuzzy doesn’t mean they should be pet or fed…