Earlier this week, a not-so-cuddly furry friend was spotted roaming near the slopes of Park City Mountain , Utah.
According to Park City, bobcats are common visitors of its slopes: “It is not uncommon to see wildlife including moose, deer, marmots, hawks, and even bobcats on the mountain.”
The resort also issued a reminder to leave these forms of wildlife alone, alongside a few safety tips:
“Maintain a safe distance from wildlife. Try to stay at least 25 yards away from wildlife.”
“Never try to approach, feed, or touch wildlife.”
“Keep pets on a leash and under control at all times.”
“Slowly back away and keep a deliberate space between you and wildlife. Running may startle the animal.”‘
You don’t have to tell me twice. The last thing I want to do is drop $500 on a new Gore-Tex jacket because I got mauled by an overgrown housecat. And don’t even get me started on moose.
As Park City notes, Bobcats are local to Utah, although their range spans beyond the Beehive State. According to the International Society for Endangered Cats , as many as three million bobcats live throughout the United States, appearing in most states. Another site— BigCatsWildCats —says the total population is closer to one point five million.