Community Corner

Bobcat Kills Pomeranian in South Bellevue Hills: How to Keep Your Pet Safe

Janet Suppes, who lives near Forest Drive Southeast in a Somerset hill greenbelt, said that her Pomeranian was killed by a bobcat on Wednesday.

Janet Suppes, who lives near Forest Drive Southeast in a Somerset hill greenbelt, hopes that neighbors are aware of a bobcat in the neighborhood, after her toy Pomeranian was killed by a one this on Wednesday.

Suppes wrote:

"It happened in my backyard, on my deck. I let him outside, and then saw seconds later saw an animal running off the deck, into the yard toward the greenbelt. I ran out and started screaming, realizing that I didn't see my dog, or hear him barking or crying. The animal got to the back fence, dropped my dog, and jumped over the fence. I ran to my dog, scooped him up, and drove to the vet. He was already dead. They asked me what the animal looked like, and I said a large cat. They said, like a 40 pound cat? That would be a bobcat."

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The dog, named Puppy, was a 7 year old, 5 pound toy Pomeranian, and Suppes' home is in the back of Somerset hill. Their backyard is fenced.

Suppes said she has never seen a bobcat before in her 25 years of living in her home, and she hopes her neighbors are aware of the presence of the wildcat.

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"I want to get out the word that there is a wild animal that does not seem to have any fear of coming very close to homes, and attacking very quickly and in stealth," she said.

Bobcat sightings in Bellevue are not uncommon. There have been other recent bobcat sightings throughout the city this year, including one in January in Newport Hills, near 168th Avenue Southeast, and Lewis Creek Park.

How to protect your small pets

The Department of Fish and Wildlife says that bobcats are common and found throughout the state. The photo of the field attached to this story shows a bobcat spotted at Lewis Creek Park earlier this month.

While bobcats can be found in the suburbs, they tend to stay away from people, the DFW says.

However, the wildcats do think of small dogs and cats as prey, so it's a good idea to keep them inside at night when a bobcat is seen in the neighborhood, the DFW adds.

On the Department of Fish and Wildlife page, they offer the following advice for avoiding conflict with a bobcat:

Don’t feed wildlife. This includes deer, feral cats (domestic cats gone wild), and other small mammals. Remember predators follow prey.

Prevent the buildup of feeder foods under bird feeders. Bobcats are attracted to the many birds and rodents that come to feeders.

Feed dogs and cats indoors and clean up after them. If you must feed outside, do so in the morning or midday, and pick up food and water bowls, as well as leftovers and spilled food as soon as pets have finished eating. Water, pet food and droppings attract small mammals that, in turn, attract bobcats.

Keep dogs and cats indoors, especially from dusk to dawn. Left outside at night, small dogs and cats may become prey for bobcats (which have attacked cocker-spaniel-size dogs).

Enclose poultry (chickens, ducks, and turkeys) in a secure outdoor pen and house. Bobcats will eat poultry if they can get to them. Note: Other killers of poultry include coyotes, foxes, skunks, raccoons, feral cats, dogs, opossums, weasels, hawks, and large owls.

Have you seen bobcats in your neighborhood? Post photos if you have them, or describe what you saw in the comments.

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