Morning Commute Wild: Bobcat Spotted in Parkhill/Roxboro – Are They Here to Stay?

Just another Tuesday morning commute in Calgary, or so you thought, until a sharp-eyed resident snapped a photo of a bobcat making its way down 1st Street SW near Mission Road. This isn't just a quirky photo op; it's a vivid reminder that our urban core is increasingly sharing space with its wild neighbours, especially in established communities like Parkhill, which has been part of our city since 1910. The sight of a bobcat prowling so close to home has certainly sparked conversation, making us all wonder how to navigate this evolving urban wild.

For regular Calgarians, especially those living in neighbourhoods bordering green spaces like Parkhill and Roxboro (which hugs the Elbow River and borders Stanley Park, a known wildlife corridor), these sightings carry concrete implications. This isn't an isolated incident; bobcat sightings across Calgary actually doubled between 2018 and 2020, jumping from about 1,000 to a consistent 2,000 per year. That means more encounters for you, whether you're walking your dog, letting your cat out, or just peering into your backyard. These encounters can even have consequences, as seen this past summer in the Parkland community, where some interactions resulted in minor injuries.

Your Role: Coexisting Safely with Our Wild Neighbours

So, what's a Calgarian to do when faced with one of these beautiful, wild felines? If you spot a bobcat and it's not an emergency, the City of Calgary advises calling 311 or reporting it online. They're considered "Wildlife" under the Alberta Wildlife Act, a definition that our own Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw echoes. However, if that bobcat poses a direct threat to public safety, you'll need to escalate your call to Alberta Fish & Wildlife at 403-297-6423 during office hours, or 1-800-642-3800 after hours. The bottom line for pet owners is clear: keeping cats indoors and closely supervising small dogs when they're in your yard is becoming less of a suggestion and more of a necessity.

Building a City for All Creatures

While individual vigilance is key, some argue that our city planning needs to catch up with our growing wildlife population. Researcher Jordan-McLachlan points out that as Calgary continues its rapid expansion, we need to actively consider wildlife in our community design. This means thinking about everything from creating safe passageways under major roads to exploring better green space connections. After all, if Mission Road forms Parkhill's northern boundary and 1st Street SW cuts through areas near Roxboro, these are the very corridors where wildlife will naturally move.

This recent bobcat sighting in Parkhill/Roxboro isn't just a fleeting moment captured on a phone; it's a flashpoint in Calgary's ongoing story of urban growth and wildlife coexistence. It’s a call for awareness, responsibility, and perhaps, a rethinking of how we share our increasingly wild city. Keep your eyes peeled, your pets safe, and remember: we’re all neighbours here.