Bobcats hunting, killing small dogs on military bases in California’s High Desert
2/10/2023 2:25:17 AM
CATEGORIES:
Plants & Wildlife
Society & Public Health
AFFECTED AREAS:
Kern County, CA
China Lake, CA
San Bernardino County, CA
Barstow, CA
Fort Irwin, CA
Start Date: 10/5/2022
- End Date: 2/9/2023
Bobcats have been hunting and killing small dogs in backyards at Fort Irwin and at other military bases in California’s High Desert over the past four months. The base has secured a “depredation permit” to capture or kill the wild lynx. A fatal bobcat attack on Feb. 4 was the fifth known case since Oct. 5 of a bobcat or multiple bobcats attacking small, unsupervised dogs weighing less than 30 pounds.
This is an “extremely rare and unusual” change in bobcat behavior, with no such attacks being reported in recent years. Fort Irwin officials theorize that the attacks may be related to drought limiting the bobcat’s natural prey, such as squirrels and kangaroo rats.
Victorville Daily Press (Calif.), Feb 9, 2023
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