Bobcats

For more information on bobcats in Broomfield please refer to this brochure on bobcat coexistence tips or this article on bobcats written by Broomfield Wildlife Master Sheri Hoffman. 

Bobcat Coexistence Tips

Since bobcats can easily scale a 6-foot fence and climb trees, it is not feasible to keep them out of yards by exclusion methods. However, there are several methods that Broomfield residents can use to coexist with this rare and elusive species if they are seen:

1. Deter prey species away from your yard, including birds, mice, and rabbits.

• Attractants for bobcats would be their natural prey, such as rabbits, mice, squirrels and birds
• Birds: If you feed the birds and are concerned about a bobcat coming into your yard, remove the dropped seed and consider removing bird feeders and bird baths.
• Mice: Since mice typically feed on seed under feeders, removing fallen seed will also keep the mice population down.
• Rabbits: Keeping the rabbits out of your yard will involve excluding them by using chicken wire along the bottom of your fence and ensuring that there are no pass-through holes that the rabbits have dug under your fence, this typically only applies to the backyard. Please call the Wildlife Masters hotline (303-464-5554) for a more thorough explanation of rabbit exclusion methods.

2. Keep your pets from interacting with wildlife.

• Monitor your pets to keep them from interacting with bobcats and other
• Broomfield wildlife to keep you, your pets, and other animals safe.
• Keep your dogs on a leash when in Open Space and attended while in the backyard.
• Keep your cats indoors to keep them and other wildlife safe.

3. Keep all food sources secure.

• Always store pet food indoors.
• Keep your grill clean of any food debris.
• Cover compost piles.
• If you keep chickens, keep your chicken coop in good repair and check frequently for predator activity. You might also consider installing a trail camera for early detection of a visitor in your backyard.

4. Remove hiding habitat.

• Being ambush predators, bobcats lay in wait for prey to come along and watch what is happening around them. They look for prey animals’ activity and places they can hide or stalk while hunting. By removing brush piles, wood piles or low- hanging tree branches and low pine boughs, you will eliminate places in your yard that would attract a bobcat to hide and hunt.

5. Haze.

• You might also consider keeping a noisemaker near the back door. This could be a whistle or a tin can, half full of rocks and closed with duct tape. Blowing the whistle or shaking the can before going out will serve to scare or unsettle a cat that has decided to visit your yard. Bobcats are skittish by nature so interactions with humans are rare. If you see one in an unwanted place hazing it by yelling, waving arms and looking large would be a recommendation to scare it away.