Legacy Bobcat Buzz: What Increasing Sightings Mean for Your Pets and Our City

The Gist

Picture this: a peaceful stroll with your furry best friend near Legacy Park, only to stumble upon a local wildcat on the hunt. That's exactly what one Calgarian witnessed recently, spotting a bobcat expertly chasing rabbits in the popular off-leash dog park nestled in Calgary's southeast Legacy community. While thrilling for some, these encounters are becoming less of a rarity and more of a regular occurrence across our city.

Impact on Calgarians

If you feel like you're seeing more bobcats around, you're not wrong. Reported bobcat sightings in Calgary have surged dramatically, doubling from an annual average of about 1,000 to a consistent 2,000 sightings per year since 2018-2020. This uptick has, understandably, sparked concern among pet owners. As Vanessa Carney, a landscape analysis supervisor for the City, noted in early 2024, sightings "shot through the roof" and have "stayed high ever since." Many residents fear for the safety of their beloved pets, a sentiment the City acknowledges. In response, the City of Calgary, under its Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw (Bylaw 47M2021), strongly advises keeping domestic cats indoors and supervising small dogs when they're outdoors, as they can be vulnerable prey.

The Reality Check

So, what exactly are these elusive neighbours? Bobcats are Alberta's smallest wild cats, typically about two to three times the size of your average house cat. They're highly adaptable creatures, increasingly making themselves at home in our urban landscapes, often spotted using sidewalks, fence lines, and even residential yards as their personal hunting grounds. Their primary diet consists of small mammals like the rabbits seen in Legacy, as well as hares, mice, and squirrels. While they might eye a small domestic pet as a potential meal, attacks on humans are considered extremely unlikely.

The Flip Side

It's important to remember that bobcats, like all wildlife, are protected and conserved under Alberta's Wildlife Act R.S.A. 2000, c. W-10. The City of Calgary's bylaws align with this, classifying bobcats as 'wildlife'. While the City identifies them as "nuisance wildlife" in the context of urban coexistence, this doesn't diminish their protected status. For non-emergency bobcat sightings or concerns, residents are encouraged to report to 311. However, if there's an immediate threat to public safety, Alberta Fish & Wildlife should be contacted directly.

The Bottom Line

Living in Calgary means sharing our vibrant city with an equally vibrant array of wildlife. Coexisting with bobcats, while sometimes daunting, is part of our shared urban ecosystem. When you encounter a bobcat, the best course of action is to ensure it has a clear, unobstructed escape route and doesn't feel cornered or threatened. By understanding their habits and following City guidelines, we can help ensure both our pets and our wild neighbours can navigate our pathways, from the bustling inner city to the quiet corners of Legacy Park, safely.