Bobcats

Homeowner, rental or HOA

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Eliminate spilled bird seed, brush piles and similar food and shelter that may attract rodents and birds that are the primary prey of bobcats. Discuss this point with your neighbors if you think bobcats are being accidentally or purposely attracted to your area.
• Maintain poultry and small livestock in outdoor enclosures using sturdy materials, including a roof to prevent bobcats from climbing in. Bring small pets in at night.

Around home

• Ensure pet food, bird seed and similar foods are not accessible to bobcats. Feed and water pets indoors when possible.
• Remove brush piles and thick vegetation that can provide shelter for rodents, which are the primary food source for bobcats.
• Check your home and other structures for holes that rodents may use for access. Reducing rodent activity can reduce bobcat presence.
• Secure garbage and outdoor compost in animal-proof receptacles.
• Clean grills of food scraps and grease.
• Secure fence gates, garage doors and similar locations where bobcats may venture into your property.
• Various bobcat deterrents, such as lights and noise makers, are available from retailers. However, their effectiveness is often brief or lacking, and alternative methods may need to be used.

Pets and livestock

• Keep small pets indoors or closely supervised, particularly at night.
• Bobcats may be defensive if cornered. Be aware that some dogs may instinctively chase bobcats. Keep pets leashed when possible.
• Secure poultry and other small livestock in outdoor enclosures made of sturdy materials and a roof, particularly at night.
• Keep pet and livestock feed stored securely to avoid attracting rodents and subsequently bobcats.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of bobcats.
• Eliminating food attractants and reducing shelter around your home are the best ways to minimize bobcats frequenting your property.
• If a bobcat gets into a garage or similar area, give it gspace and use loud noises to encourage it to leave. When possible, seal the opening once the bobcat departs.
• Various bobcat deterrents, such as motion-activated lights or sprinklers, are available from retailers. Their effectiveness may be brief, and alternative methods may be needed.
• Setting up a waterproof radio set on a talk radio station can be used as a temporary solution to deter bobcats from yards and similar areas. Several radios may need to be used for larger spaces.
• If damage from wildlife is occurring but you are not sure what type of animal is causing it, setting up at least one trail camera at that location is a good way to identify the animal.
• A bold bobcat is not necessarily an aggressive bobcat. Seeing a bobcat around home during daytime is normal. If you see a bobcat, yell and wave your arms, because a bobcat that maintains fear of humans will be less likely to cause conflicts.
• In the rare case a bobcat becomes aggressive, such as growling or snarling, throw objects that can deter it. Report aggressive behavior to the DNR RAP Line: 800-292-7800.
• If you find an injured adult bobcat or bobcat cub that you believe its mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• If your jurisdiction allows hunting or trapping, a bobcat may be lethally removed by the property owner or their designee with a hunting or trapping license during the regulated hunting or trapping season.
• Consider contacting the Michigan Trappers & Predator Callers to check if they have anyone interested in hunting or trapping bobcats, if allowed in your area.
• If a bobcat is causing property damage, contact your local DNR Wildlife Division office to request a damage and nuisance animal control permit. Lethal removal may only occur after a permit is issued.
• If interested in implementing a hunting or trapping program in your jurisdiction, contact your local DNR Wildlife Division office for guidance.

Local government

Prevent problems

Key strategies

•  Access to human provided food, such as bird seed and pet food, can attract bobcats and rodents they prey on. This can habituate bobcats to people. Discuss this issue with constituents if you think bobcats are being accidentally or purposely fed in your community.
• Minimize brush piles, rock heaps, and similar structures around public spaces that can harbor rodents that attract bobcats.

Your community

• Encourage the public to not feed wildlife.
• Seeing a bobcat around populated areas, including during daytime, is normal. Educate residents about hazing bobcats by yelling, clapping and stomping their feet. A bobcat that maintains a fear of humans will be less likely to cause conflicts.
• Various bobcat deterrents, such as lights and noise makers, are available from retailers. However, their effectiveness is often brief or lacking, and alternative methods may need to be used.

Public spaces

• Minimize brush piles, rock heaps, and similar structures around public spaces that can harbor rodents that attract bobcats.
• Check municipal buildings for holes that rodents may use for access, thereby reducing attractive food for bobcats.
• Eliminate or secure abandoned structures that may shelter bobcats and rodents.
• Ensure that grills are cleaned and food waste in parks is disposed of properly.
• Provide signage recommending park users not feed wildlife, including how it can lead to habituated bobcats.
• Secure fence gates, garage doors and similar locations where bobcats may venture into municipal buildings.

Pets and livestock

• Encourage residents to supervise small pets outdoors and keep dogs leashed in parks, particularly during early morning and late evening.
• Educate residents with poultry or small livestock about housing animals in secure, predator-resistant enclosures with a sturdy roof.
• Keep pet food and livestock food secure to reduce attracting bobcats. 

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of bobcats.
• Reducing food attractants and shelter around homes and businesses are the best ways to reduce attracting and habituating bobcats.
• Deter bobcats by yelling, clapping and stomping your feet. A bobcat that maintains a fear of humans will be less likely to cause conflicts. Seeing a bobcat during daytime is normal. A bold bobcat is not necessarily an aggressive bobcat.
• Various bobcat deterrents, such as motion-activated lights or sprinklers, are available from retailers. Their effectiveness may be brief, and alternative methods may be needed.
• If damage from wildlife is occurring but you are not sure what type of animal is causing it, setting up at least one trail camera at that location is a good way to identify the animal.
• In the rare case a bobcat becomes aggressive, such as growling or snarling, throw objects that can deter it. Report aggressive behavior to the DNR RAP Line: 800-292-7800.
• If someone finds an injured adult bobcat or a bobcat cub that they believe it’s mother is dead, they can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• Local governments may not lethally remove a bear unless there is an immediate threat to human life.
• If a bear is an immediate threat to human life, call or text the Michigan DNR RAP line at: 800-292-7800. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• For bears causing property damage or repeatedly entering populated areas, contact your local DNR Wildlife Division office to determine whether a bear damage permit is appropriate.
• A hunting license is required if the bear is taken outside the authority of a damage permit and during the established hunting season.
• If pursuing a bear trapping or lethal management program, coordination with the DNR is required.

Business or school

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Access to human provided food, such as bird seed and pet food, can attract rodents and subsequently bobcats. This can habituate bobcats to people. Discuss this issue with surrounding businesses and residents if you think bobcats are being accidentally or purposely fed in your area.
• Minimize brush piles, rock heaps, and similar structures around your building that can harbor rodents that attract bobcats.

Grounds

• Ensure maintenance staff checks for holes that rodents may use for access, thereby reducing attractive food for bobcats.
• Ensure outdoor courtyards and recreation areas are clear of food sources like cafeteria waste. Secure outdoor trash in animal-proof receptacles.
• Clean grills of food scraps and grease.
• Maintain landscaping to reduce hiding cover for rodents and bobcats.
• Secure fence gates, garage doors and similar locations where bobcats may venture near or into buildings.

Pets and livestock

• If therapy or resident pets are present, ensure they are supervised outdoors, particularly during dawn and dusk when bobcats are most active.
• Keep small animals supervised or within an enclosure with sturdy fencing and roof.
• If your business or school has poultry or small livestock, ensure to house animals in secure, predator-resistant enclosures with a sturdy roof.
• Keep pet and livestock food secure to reduce attracting rodents and subsequently bobcats.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of bobcats other than for permitted research.
• Haze bobcats by yelling, clapping and stomping your feet. A bobcat that maintains a fear of humans will be less likely to cause conflicts. Seeing a bobcat during daytime is normal. A bold bobcat is not necessarily an aggressive bobcat.
• Eliminating food attractants and reducing shelter around homes and businesses are the best ways to reduce attracting and habituating bobcats.
• Various bobcat deterrents, such as motion-activated lights or sprinklers, are available from retailers. Their effectiveness may be brief, and alternative methods may be needed.
• Setting up a waterproof radio set on a talk radio station can be used as a temporary solution to deter bobcats from yards and similar areas. Several radios may need to be used for larger spaces.
• If damage from wildlife is occurring but you are not sure what type of animal is causing it, setting up at least one trail camera at that location is a good way to identify the animal.
• In the rare case a bobcat becomes aggressive, such as growling or snarling, throw objects that can deter it. Report aggressive behavior to the DNR RAP Line: 800-292-7800.
• If someone finds an injured adult bobcat or a bobcat cub that they believe it’s mother is dead, they can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• In areas where hunting is allowed, a bobcat may be lethally removed by the property owner or their designee with a hunting or trapping license during the regulated hunting or trapping season.
• Consider contacting the Michigan Trappers & Predator Callers to check if they have anyone interested in hunting or trapping bobcats, if allowed in your area.
• If a bobcat is causing property damage, contact your local DNR Wildlife Division office to request a damage and nuisance animal control permit. Lethal removal may only occur after a permit is issued.

Agriculture

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Eliminate spilled grain, brush piles and similar food and shelter that may attract rodents and birds that are the primary prey of bobcats.
• Maintain poultry and small livestock in outdoor enclosures using sturdy materials, including a roof to prevent bobcats from climbing in. Bring small pets in at night.

Your farm or orchard

• Secure pet food and livestock food to minimize attracting rodents and subsequently bobcats. Feed and water pets indoors when possible.
• Secure garbage and outdoor compost in animal-proof receptacles.
• Carcasses or afterbirth from livestock operations should be promptly removed. Carcasses should be composted or buried in accordance with MDARD regulations.
• Minimize rodent access to outbuildings and livestock shelters to discourage bobcats from being attracted to the rodents.
• Guard animals, such as livestock guardian dogs, may help protect flocks or herds when properly managed.

Pets and livestock

• Secure poultry and small livestock in predator-resistant structures at night.
• Keep young livestock close to buildings or within secure fencing.
• Keep small pets supervised outdoors when possible, particularly during dawn and dusk when bobcats are most active.

Solve a problem

Livestock depredation

• Bobcats rarely prey on livestock other than poultry, rabbits, and similar sized animals. Bobcats may often scavenge carcasses of livestock killed by other species or that died of other causes.
• Differentiate between coyote and bobcat predation using evidence such as tracks, tooth spacing on carcass, and carcass condition.
• Depredations by bobcats are not eligible for indemnification payment. Only depredations by coyotes, gray wolves, and cougars are eligible.

Non-lethal methods

• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of bobcats.
• Eliminating bobcat access to food and shelter around the farm is the best long-term strategy.
• Protection animals, such as donkeys and Great Pyrenees dogs, can be beneficial. Maximize success by ensuring protection animals are trained to stay with livestock or within the orchard, rather than trained as a pet.
• Various bobcat deterrents, such as motion-activated lights or sprinklers, are available from retailers. Their effectiveness may be brief, and alternative methods may be needed.
• If damage from wildlife is occurring but you are not sure what type of animal is causing it, setting up at least one trail camera at that location is a good way to identify the animal.
• If you find an injured adult bobcat or a bobcat cub that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• In areas where hunting is allowed, a bobcat may be lethally removed by the property owner or their designee with a hunting or trapping license during the regulated hunting or trapping season.
• Consider contacting the Michigan Trappers & Predator Callers to check if they have anyone interested in hunting or trapping bobcats, if allowed in your area.
• If a bobcat is causing property damage, contact your local DNR Wildlife Division office to request a damage and nuisance animal control permit. Lethal removal may only occur after a permit is issued.

Airport

Prevent problems

Key strategies

• Access to human provided food, such as bird seed and pet food, can attract rodents and subsequently bobcats. This can habituate bobcats to people. Discuss this issue with surrounding businesses and residents if you think bobcats are being accidentally or purposely fed in your area.
• Minimize brush piles, rock heaps, and similar structures around buildings that can harbor rodents that attract bobcats.

Around buildings

• Maintain clear areas around buildings by mowing vegetation and removing brush piles and rock heaps.
• Ensure maintenance staff checks for holes that rodents may use for access, thereby reducing attractive food for bobcats.
• Ensure outdoor courtyards and recreation areas are clear of food sources like cafeteria waste. Secure outdoor trash in animal-proof receptacles.
• Secure fence gates, garage doors and similar locations where bobcats may venture near or into buildings.

Airfields

• Maintain short vegetation across airfields to limit rodent populations.
• Remove debris or features like brush piles and rock heaps that can shelter rodents and attract bobcats.

Solve a problem

Non-lethal methods

• Michigan DNR does not authorize or conduct live capture and release of bobcats.
• Reducing food and shelter on the airfield is the most effective long-term strategy to minimize attracting bobcats.
• Various bobcat deterrents, such as lights and noise makers, are available from retailers. However, their effectiveness is often brief or lacking, and alternative methods may need to be used.
• If damage from wildlife is occurring but you are not sure what type of animal is causing it, setting up at least one trail camera at that location is a good way to identify the animal.
• If you find an injured adult bobcat or a bobcat cub that you believe it’s mother is dead, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before removing it from the wild. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may possess abandoned or injured wildlife.

Lethal methods

• If a bobcat is causing an immediate public safety issue at an airport, a DNR Wildlife Division regional supervisor or district law enforcement supervisor or their designee can issue a removal permit without investigation.
• For bobcat issues other than public safety, contact a local DNR Wildlife Division office.