LAKE ELSINORE: Steps taken to shoo off bobcats

Animal spotted again Friday; residents remain calm

By JENNIFER KABBANY - For The Californian | Monday, September 8, 2008 3:51 PM PDT ∞

A pair of bobcats were seen recently resting on top of a wall at an abandoned home in the Tuscany Hills neighborhood of Lake Elsinore. (Photo Courtesy of Karen Brown)

LAKE ELSINORE---- As officials work to scare away a family of bobcats that has taken a liking to the backyard of an abandoned home in the Tuscany Hills neighborhood, several residents said they aren't too worried ---- yet.

"We're just being prudent about it," said David Chick.

The Chicks live across the street from the house in question on Vista Ripalti and own a little dog.

"We're not walking him at night," he said.

The latest bobcat sighting took place Friday, when a woman walking outside around 7 a.m. spotted an adult cat in the hills behind the abandoned home, said Monique Middleton, an animal control supervisor with the Animal Friends of the Valleys' shelter.

Animal control and police officers are taking measures to encourage the bobcats to relocate, such as taking dog droppings collected from the animal shelter and spreading them in the hills behind the home to ward off the cats, Middleton said.

It's a tactic often used with coyotes, she added.

The real estate agent for the Vista Ripalti home also was asked to remove any water from the backyard, which might have been attracting the bobcats, Middleton said.

The backyard of the home, abandoned for months, still had a bit of water left in its Jacuzzi and koi pond, she said.

"I think they are on their way out, and that's what we want," Middleton said of the bobcats. "We want to leave them alone and not hurt them."

The two adult bobcats spotted by residents are estimated to be about 40 pounds each, shelter officials have said. Evidence of a small litter of bobcat kittens also was discovered in the backyard of the home in late August, they said.

Bobcats are native to the hills of the area, officials have said. Studies show they are largely nocturnal and rarely spotted by humans. Attacks on humans are rare, but bobcats are capable of injuring small dogs and cats, shelter officials said.

There is no official policy on how to react to this rare situation, she said.

There was talk of whether the animals might need to be shot, but that has been shelved for now, she said.

"If it gets to the point where it becomes a public safety issue, they can and will be shot," Middleton said. "But our ultimate goal is to preserve the wildlife."

If the dog droppings don't work as a deterrent, another option might be to set up traps to capture the bobcats and relocate them to a more secluded area, she said.

So far, they have not posed a threat to humans, she said. Nor have any missing animals been reported, she said Monday.

A small sign posted on a neighborhood mailbox advises residents to secure pets and not let children play alone outside after dark. Residents said they're heeding the advice.

"The kids were a little nervous about walking to school," said Ricardo Marroquan, who lives a few houses down from the bobcat sightings. "They asked if they should be afraid."

Marroquan said he is following safety instructions handed down by officials, and added he has yet to feel nervous about the wild animals found so close to his home.

A man who identified himself as the owner of the Vista Ripalti home was weeding and mowing his backyard Saturday evening along with several others. He declined an interview about his now-infamous visitors.

But the bobcats' strange behavior, as it is reportedly rare for them to take up residence so close to humans, has made a regional and national splash.

A front page article in the Los Angeles Times noted that "the foreclosure market is getting wild in Lake Elsinore," and an Associated Press story distributed across the country quipped that housing speculators "aren't the only ones pouncing on good deals."

Karen Brown, who lives across the street from the Vista Ripalti home, took several pictures of two adult bobcats lounging on the back wall of the property Aug. 27.

"We haven't seen them since that one sighting on the wall right in front of us," she said.

The sight of the wild animals just hanging out at dusk prompted about two dozen neighbors to come out and just stare in awe, said Scott Brown, Karen's husband.

"I think everyone was amazed," he said.

He added he doesn't blame the cats for looking for some shelter. The hills behind the Tuscany Hills neighborhood are being razed for development, and Scott Brown said he thinks the animals are just trying to cope.

  "Their land is being invaded," he said.

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

Yikes wrote on Sep 9, 2008 7:40 AM:These little guys were kicked out by developers. They are just reclaiming their territory.

Concerned wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:10 AM:We are definitely invading those animals space. Additionally, I would hope killing those animals is not an option ever. We have an obligation to protect the animals that we have displaced by our own selfish development.

We need to get use to this. wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:20 AM:The openspace corridors being created...environmental hwyways for animal biodiversity...in SWRiverside County will be more than 250,000 contigious acres in size. Most of which will back up the fence lines of track homes...many with scenic see thru fences.

Many of the native animal population will be within inches of our pets and children...coyotes, black bear, mountian lions, bob cats, deer, as more and more growth occures and the animals are forced to travel to eat, drink, and breed...much like a commute.

This is in part being done for the "damage" the farmers of these valleys did to the those particular species while "protecting" their crops and families.

Take another look at this picture wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:53 AM:Does anyone else see the palm tree on the other side of the fence? This picture was taken from the animals side of the fence. They, the Bob Cats, were not looking into the backyard, but getting a view of the wild side.
Can you blame them...LOL.

Keep them Wild wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:06 AM:NCT I would appriciate an article about how to live with wildlife that has been displaced rather than one about how to get rid of the wildlife that has been displaced. In addition interview someone from the California Department of Fish & Game. These are the people to contact regarding wildlife in your backyard NOT the police who do not have training regarding wildlife. Check out the DFG website "Keep Me Wild" at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/index.html

What the new residents dont understand. wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:43 AM:People who have lived in Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, Temecula, French Valley and Menifee for generations know the extent of wildlife here...

People who have moved here from densely populated areas, hardly ever have seen rabbits on their front lawns let alone a deer, rattle snakes, raccoon, or badger.
Track home height fences are not going to keep out mountain lions, bob cats, deer, bear,...let alone those that burry under fence lines like snakes, badgers, skunks or coyotes.

LOL...HOAs are going to love the raccons, and coyotes when they play with everything that isn't tied down like a bunch of hoodlums and drag stuff into the streets...let alone go after their loved ones.

When people buy homes along the "corridors" they should be made to sign a waiver...knowing that lives could be in danger After all the animals are being forced or at the very least tempted to travel these paths.

Saftey of the human race has been removed in reguard for prolification of animals...not that it's a bad thing...just that the people buying these homes should know that their safety was intentionally left out.

Nancy wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:27 AM:Killing the bobcats should not be an option. It's the easy way out and it's the wrong way. The idea of safe traps and relocation is the answer for this issue. We are taking away their territory and they should have the opportunity of being relocated. Elsinore is a rural area and wildlife is part of the territory. It should be dealt with in a non violent way. I live in Carlsbad in a large busy neighborhood and we have a coyote that wanders through once in a while. We are aware of it and take steps to protect ourselves. Live with nature, don't destroy it.

Get rid of them wrote on Sep 9, 2008 12:50 PM:They are a menace and should go. Do whatever it takes to rid the land of these vermin.

Ringmaster wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:10 PM:Catch those wild kitties and donate them to the circus! I want to see them perform some tricks or maybe even some magic at a Las Vegas show. They are going to waste just hiding up in the hills or squatting at an abandoned home. Somebody please catch those critters os they can be put on exhibit.

To Get rid of them wrote on Sep 9, 2008 2:48 PM:How about we get rid of you? These bobcats are not vermin as you put it. Also, they are not a menace if left alone. I have lived in Murrieta for almost 20 years and I have seen wildlife that I have never seen in my life. We have had skunks, possum, raccoons take up residence in our garage, on top of our vined patio cover and try to walk away with our cats closed container of food. We just trapped them and relocated them, made sure our pet food and water was no longer accessable. We hear the coyotes at night and sometimes see them during the day. They were here before we were so we are the invaders. I no longer see skunk and the beautiful red tail hawks are few and far between. We still see rabbits and my cats come in at night so as not to become dinner. I do hope that these bobcats will not be harmed and they can be reloated safely.

Quick... wrote on Sep 9, 2008 3:17 PM:Get the Ringmaster another drink!

Sorry Nancy... wrote on Sep 9, 2008 3:26 PM:Trapping and relocation are not allowed under the endangered spieces act. It's the humans thoughts and behaviors that have to change.

To Sorry Nancy wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:16 PM:I don't think Bobcats are listed as an endangered species. I may be wrong, but I see no harm in relocating them to a safer area in their own habitat. According to the article this can be done.

JB wrote on Sep 10, 2008 5:34 AM:These animals are NOT endangered. There is a very simple solution to this problem. Below is the exact wording from the California Fish & Game rules and regulations.
Bobcat Tags $13.25(5 tags per book) Residents and nonresidents, 12 years of age or older at the time of application, may purchase one (1) book of five (5) Bobcat Tags per license year. Tags are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Hummmm……….won’t I be a hit in my new fur coat…………I wonder if they taste like chicken???????? Here Kitty-kitty-kitty..........

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