We just bought a piece of property outside Buffalo TX. 12 acres. Today we saw a bobcat go into a wooded section where it gets pretty thick. Broad daylight it ran across the property, and didn't come out (it's cleared all around it so we probably would have seen it leave). I'm thinking there might be a den in there.

So should this be a concern for us? We have two german shepherds, but they generally don't wander off without us. No experience with bobcats. Do I need to hunt down and murder it/them or just leave it be?

Have no fear. Your dogs are probably more than twice his weight. Enjoy being close to nature.

Let it be.

Consider it a bad ass little mascot...that you can't pet.

Sounds good, thanks guys!

Good answers....they kill undesirable critters, like Chihuahuas and Poodles and Yorkies. Well, maybe not those undesirables, but other rodents.

Just so you know, wildlife lives in the country! Including snakes, spiders, and bugs!!

In all seriousness, wildlife is one of the benefits of owning property in the country, ENJOY it!

I have a 3 year old, 2 beagles, and at least 3 bobcats that I know are in the general area. I could really care less about the bobcats.

Congrats on living in some pretty country.

Where at in buffalo? I grew up in Jewett.

Yeah, country life is new to me. Bought the place as a getaway from Houston area. Learning a lot, and getting in better shape!

Snakes are not going to be easy to get used to. Have only seen a few small garter types thus far. Not excited about seeing rattlers, copperheads, etc...

Most of my worries are about my dogs. I'd guess they would go into the den if they knew it was there, probably wouldn't end well. Same deal on snakes, they have never seen one as far as I know.

It has a 3 acre lake on it, trying to learn pond management quickly. Overton Fisheries and pondboss.com are helping there.

Thanks for the advice and expect more questions!

Montana, off CR 327 and I45. South of Buffalo about 5 miles. Enjoying me some Rancho Viejo mexican food. Haven't made my way to Jewett yet.

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Just so you know, wildlife lives in the country! Including snakes, spiders, and bugs!!

In all seriousness, wildlife is one of the benefits of owning property in the country, ENJOY it!

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Yet, probably every one of you on this thread consider coyotes pest wildlife and blast away?

your dogs will probably chase and harrass them until they get their ass kicked, then they will leave them alone

Bobcats, coyotes, hogs, feral cats, rattle snakes & skunks are shot on sight on my property, if I get the opportunity. Fortunately, I have no coyotes or hogs. Have killed a few rattlers, feral cats and skunks. Have seen a couple bobcats, but have not had the opportunity to shoot at one.

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Yet, probably every one of you on this thread consider coyotes pest wildlife and blast away?

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nope

Same as Yellowpot.

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Montana, off CR 327 and I45. South of Buffalo about 5 miles. Enjoying me some Rancho Viejo mexican food. Haven't made my way to Jewett yet.

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You aren't missing much by not stopping in Jewett. Stop in Leona at the store there and get a steak sometime they're excellent.

M80,
Hopefully you are over stating killing just for the sake of killing. Minus the feral cats and hogs, all the other animals you claim to shoot on site are beneficial in some way on keeping a balance of nature. They have a place in the ecosystem.

We have more bobcats than any other predator to where I see 4-5 different ones each hunting season. Our deer and turkey populations have increased significantly over the years with their presence, so IMO, there's no benefit in removing them from the area. I would guess they only catch or kill the old, injured or weak, helping in the overall management aspect.

Leona does have awesome food. There isn't much in Jewett. Once a month there is a flea market there that has gotten big over the last couple of years that's worth checking out once

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Bobcats, coyotes, hogs, feral cats, rattle snakes & skunks are shot on sight on my property, if I get the opportunity.

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Oh Lord. Two I'd agree with and the other four have great benefit to the property. Very sad how little some understand nature.

Doc, your trend is frequently noted, especially in regards to turkeys. They will kill an adult here and there, but they are probably the best at tagging rodents that are bigger nest/egg predators.

Bobcats and coyotes get a pass from me. Rattlesnakes and skunks, depends on their proximity to people. Around the barn, they don't live. Non-venomous snakes are welcome. Feral hogs, automatic kill. Feral cats I tend to let live, I hate rats and mice with a passion.

If you are a rabbit hunter then maybe the yotes and bobcats aren't so beneficial. Just saying

I see turkey kills on a regular basis but in our area that's a good thing. If bobcats killed half of our turkey, we would still have double what we need.

We do have one big male coyote that we see on a regular basis, but let him go. It seems him being there have kept others from moving in. I don't know if that's the case or if others are just not as sociable.

I'd shoot a feral hog for sure. Otherwise, I let it live unless it appears to be possibly rabid by behavior.

Yeah, a GS would annihilate a bobcat in a fight. The bobcat would probably not hang around for one, anyways.

You could always get the dogs snake proofed.

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Yeah, a GS would annihilate a bobcat in a fight. The bobcat would probably not hang around for one, anyways.

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my money is on the bobcat, especially against city dogs

Id put my money on the GS...wait..who's paying the vet bill?

We once had a rather large Maine Coon cat (21 lbs) that was attacked by a GS in Gleannloch Farms. The fact that the cat didn't give one inch as the GS ran at her clearly had the dog a bit worried because it was slowing a pretty good bit before it arrived at the cat.................who sunk her claws so deeply into the GS's nose...........the GS ran away howling. But yes............that was a soft city dog.

This bobcat vs. dog talk reminds me of an incident that happened in my youth. I had many very unique experiences growing up with all sorts of wildlife "pets". We nearly always had a pet coon and one of them was kept on a leash attached to a 50 foot trolley that gave him lots of running room. He was a couple of years old & probably weighed 20 pounds when we added a baby bobcat to the animal mix around the house. The bobcat was still very young & weighed no more than 4-5 pounds. Still pretty much a baby. When not penned up, he would generally follow us around the yard.

One day I shot a squirrel and tossed it to the bobcat. My thirteen year old brain didn't think about the fact that even though the squirrel landed near the baby bobcat, it also landed within the running range of the coon. The coon saw an opportunity to take the squirrel away from the bobcat and bounded over with an attitude. That was not a good idea. Now, coons are tough but that baby bobcat lit into that coon with no mercy. Fur was flying and both animals were screaming as loud as they could.

The fight lasted no more than three seconds with the coon running away as fast as he could leaving the squirrel with the bobcat.

A bobcat would never attack a dog as big as a GS but I wouldn't bet against the bobcat in a fight. They are fur wrapped dynamite.

Obviously, I do not have the same outlook as some of you. I have lived and worked in the country all of my life. I run sheep on a few properties. Have you ever seen what kind of fun a pair of coyotes can have in one night in a sheep pasture. And, cats just love those cute little lambs. And, I just plain do not like rattle snakes. I do relocate any other snakes that I find around my house. Takes all kinds, I suppose.

My Mom once saw our GS chase a coyote into the woods. She was hot on its trail, and it wanted nothing to do with her.

If there was a Vegas moneyline on GS v. Bobcat, it'd be at least GS -300. I'd still bet the GS.

I get lots of calls with folks freaked out that bobcats are going to kill their dogs, or a "bobcat killed a neighbors dog". To date I have personally never been able to confirm a bobcat killing a dog (now confirming that it was a neighbor's dog or even another one they owned, that's a couple times a year, usually with country boys). In the few dog vs. bobcat encounters I know, every one was initiated by the dog.

Ok ursusguy, our neighbor witnessed a 'mountain lion take down a male deer', her words. We've had mountain lion reports in the past and I'm pretty sure they are bobcats.

Ever hear of a bobcat taking down a hill country buck, 90 lbs tops?

[This message has been edited by HECUBUS (edited 5/6/2013 7:55p).]