SOUTHAMPTON — While sitting around the kitchen table Thursday night, the Lacourse family didn’t expect to see anything unusual. But when they looked out the window, they were astounded: A bobcat was creeping across their backyard.
Bobcats aren’t rare around western Massachusetts, but they’re elusive and solitary, according to MassWildlife. The felines are the only wild cats left in Massachusetts and tend to avoid heavily-cleared land, making them difficult to spot. However, they are adapting to suburban areas such as backyards and other residential places.
“I’m 64, and I’ve never seen one before!” Ray Lacourse said. His neighbor has sent him pictures of bobcats in trees and the backyard, but he didn’t expect to see one himself.
The bobcat stared down the Lacourse’s cats on the porch, but no conflict ensued. Bobcats prefer to prey on small animals such as rabbits and squirrels, but they rarely interfere with human activity. Lacourse explained that the large population of turkeys in the area could be related to the presence of the bobcat.
Although it may appear large in the picture, Lacourse said that the cat wasn’t actually as big as it seemed. Running about 15 to 35 pounds, the adult bobcat is about twice the double the size of a house cat. The bobcat can be easily identified by its short tail, black spots, and the ruff of fur around the face.
While generally quiet, according to MassWildlife, “bobcats can produce a large repertoire of noises. A bobcat may scowl, snarl, and spit when confronted with danger and may be heard screaming during the breeding season,” which lasts from February through March.