Video: 2 Bobcats On A Short Sunday Stroll In Phoenix Neighborhood

PHOENIX, AZ — Video as seen on the Neighbors app caught two bobcats taking a short stroll on the block fence at a Phoenix home near 44th Place and Adobe Sunday. The first bobcat strolls leisurely on top of the fence and takes a rest once it's found its neighborhood lookout position. A second bobcat then follows, but boldly scampers down to the ground below, using a wooden gate as a prop for support during descent and disappearing from the camera's sight.

The second bobcat reappears after a moment, leaping all the way back up without using the side fence's support this time. The second bobcat then returns to where the first bobcat still coolly rests.

While many people fear bobcats, Arizona Game and Fish Department officials say that a bobcat attacking a human is rare and usually only happens if the bobcat has rabies. The Department does advise protecting small pets from bobcats, however. Ways to do that include keeping small pets inside, or putting them in a roofed-in, enclosed area.

Things that might draw bobcats to a neighborhood such as the one pictured in this video include pets' water dishes or water in pools, and places they can make dens or bask in the sun such as areas beneath decks, on rooftops or in thick brush. Bobcats might also visit a neighborhood in search of food including small livestock, poultry, birds, small pets, rabbits or mice.

To scare off a bobcat, use a garden hose and spray at them, or make loud noises. If a bobcat is in an enclosed space, let it depart from the area without human intervention or people around, Arizona Game and Fish Department officials recommend. If a bobcat gets trapped inside a home, contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department or a local wildlife control company. If bobcat kittens are nearby, the Department's website asks residents to "consider tolerating them for a few weeks until the kittens are large enough to leave the area with their mother."

Bobcat relocation should be a last resort, officials advise. However, if it is deemed essential, a wildlife control business can be called or individuals can contact the Department to find out where appropriate sites for release are located.

If there's a bobcat emergency, homeowners can call the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control office at 602-506-7387. If you are attacked, fight the animal off and try to stay indoors. If you have a live bobcat in your possession or if a bobcat has caused severe property damage, call the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The Phoenix office can be contacted at 602-942-3000, or after hours and on weekends, the Department dispatcher can be reached at 623-236-7201.

To learn more about bobcats and what to do if you see one, access the Arizona Game and Fish Department's website.

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