What's Happening in Calgary, AB…

A Calgary resident recently played host to some unexpected house guests.

Katherine Reiffenstein had gone out on her porch to clean the glass on her front door when she spotted a pair of bobcats sitting on her step. At first, she just saw the mother and baby, but soon, other bobcat kittens started to show themselves. They stayed long enough for her to be able to get a few pictures, then they took off across the street.

The neighborhood where the wildcats reside is located between two of Calgary’s wildlife areas, and according to Alberta Fish and Wildlife, there are no plans to remove them as they do not feel they pose a threat. They recommend that any homeowners who don’t want them in their yard to remove bird feeders that could be attractive to small mammals such as mice, keep small pets inside, close off any outdoor areas that could provide shelter to the bobcats, keep garbage secure, and install lights that are motion sensitive. Brochure printers can produce informational leaflets about this that can be distributed to the public.

Ms. Reiffenstein remarked that she had never expected to see them in her yard, as she had always assumed they were quite shy, and she considers herself lucky to have had the opportunity to do so. The thought among the neighborhood residents is that the mother has been in the area for some time, and the kittens were born there too.