Housing residents must take precautions to prevent predator attacks on family pets Published May 4, 2011 By Kate Blais 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Scaling a four-and-a-half foot stone wall in a quiet family neighborhood is a minimal feat for a wild animal that hunts with stealth and pounces up to 10 feet to capture its prey. Family pets in base housing have been attacked by bobcats four times within the last month. All four pets suffered injuries that required medical attention from a veterinarian and one pet was severely injured. Twice the size of an average housecat, bobcats are known for their elusiveness and often remain unseen by most people, said Chris Herbst, a JT3 natural resources biologist in the Environmental Management branch. "However, that being said, they are highly adaptable predators capable of taking down prey as large as a deer," he continued. In the past month, the base has seen the adaptability of the animal first-hand in the attacks on pets. Spring marks the season when mother bobcats begin to nurture their young, becoming very protective of them and can be desperate for food sources. "My wife, two other dogs and I were inside when we heard Lily growl and then yelp and whimper," said 1st Lt. Timothy Pierce, 419th Flight Test Squadron weapons engineer and base resident. "When I went outside, I saw the bobcat before it jumped up and over the [backyard] wall. Then I basically jumped over the wall and chased it through a couple people's yards before I gave up." Lily, Lieutenant Pierce's dachshund, was bit and scratched by the bobcat before the wild animal was interrupted and chased out of the area. Although Lily is healing, she and other small pets are potential food sources for wild animals that have become too comfortable around people. Lieutenant Pierce admitted that he knew there was a chance for confrontation between a wild animal and his pets, "but I figured it would be a coyote, not a bobcat," he said. "When urban areas start to interface with open desert, the dynamics between people and animals change," said Misty Hailstone, who is also a JT3 biologist at EM. "The desert is a harsh environment and food tends to be scarce and difficult to obtain. If an animal lives close enough and becomes desperate enough it will enter the urban environment which tends to have readily available water and food sources; a defenseless small dog outside at night alone is an easy target." Once a predator like a coyote or bobcat begins to look at residential neighborhoods as a food source, it is difficult if not impossible to break that connection for that animal, biologists say. For that reason, wildlife officers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will make every effort to identify the bobcats that are targeting pets in base housing, and once identified, they will capture and possibly euthanize them. According to Mr. Herbst, many communities in California have created city ordinances that make feeding wildlife a citable offense. "These animals need to stay afraid of people and should never associate people or their homes with food," he said. "A hungry bobcat, as with any animal that has lost its fear of humans, is sure to cause problems. Until residents solve the underlying problem of what is attracting the predators to our neighborhoods, we will continue to have this issue every year." According EM, there are several measures to take in order to protect homes and pets from wild animals, and deter them from becoming comfortable in base housing: - Never feed wildlife, including birds, squirrels and other small animals, as they may attract larger predators like bobcats. It is against base regulations to feed the wildlife. - Keep pets indoors, especially at night. If pets do need to go outside, always stay outside with them at close range. - Do not leave pet food or water outside. - Ensure all trees and bushes are trimmed back to reduce the number of places a bobcat or other wild animal can hide. - Report pest problems, such as numerous ground squirrels and rodents, to 723-7525. - Talk with neighbors to ensure that they're taking the same precautions. If a bobcat is encountered on base, never corner it. Do not attack the cat or try to take food away from it. If confronted by a bobcat, stand tall and scare it off with loud noises or spray it with a garden hose. If need be, back away from the animal slowly and without panic. Be sure to call Security Forces Squadron at 277-3340 to report the incident. For general questions about bobcats, coyotes or other wildlife concerns, please contact Environment Management at 277-1401.