Bobcats in urban neighbourhood

Observation by Carrie Lefebvre:

This past March 2022, I had the privilege of witnessing two bobcats in my backyard. I was able to photograph both of them as they were resting under my children’s trampoline. I have lived in Calgary, and I have been camping and hiking in the area surrounding Calgary for over forty years. During that time, I have not seen a bobcat in an urban or rural environment. Considering the length of time I have lived in Calgary and my outdoor experience outside of the city, I feel that seeing these bobcats was an unusual sighting of a typically solitary animal.

Naturalist Brian Keating responded to my request to comment on why citizens in Calgary are seeing more bobcats in recent years. Brian said the following:

“I think people are seeing more bobcats in the city because they are increasing in numbers, are smart (as all predators need to be), and they’ve come to the realization that people are not usually a threat within the city. With people usually carrying cell phones with cameras, the sightings are being recorded and reported more often. Social media is a great communicator.

Also, as the city ages, our growing urban forest and bushland in our natural parks have become more abundant. This in turn attracts native animals like red squirrels and prairie hares, as well as provides homes for introduced species like the eastern gray squirrel, European rabbit, and free-roaming domestic cats. This is opened up a tremendous unexploited food opportunity for the bobcat.” Brian Keating, email communications (October 27, 2022).