Bobcat Spotted in Newport Hills: Keep Your Small Pets Safe

A bobcat was spotted in the Newport Hills neighborhood Friday near the Ringdall School property (currently the site of Chinook Middle School as Chinook undergoes renovation).

According to the Newport Hills Community Club Facebook page:

Bobcat spotted earlier today on SE 60th near 116th Ave SE. Went down in to the ravine. May be a good night to make sure your small pets are secured.

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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