On the surface, encountering wildlife in unexpected places can be exciting and fascinating. After all, it’s not every day that a bear, moose or bobcat crosses your path.
But given the increase in wildlife sightings in recent decades, it’s likely that not only are human activities encroaching on their natural habitats, but that our frequent proximity is continuing to put these spectacular species at risk.
What happened?
Onlooker and nature enthusiast Arthur Santos (@arthur.muller.arts) shared a brief video on TikTok of a wild bobcat dashing across a human bridge with the caption, “He’s less than a foot away from us.”
“What a majestic, sneaky, shy cat,” Santos added.
While commenters were quick to rave about the graceful creature, many seemed to overlook the fact that, according to the video, the bobcat found itself most likely in a local park—far away from traditional bobcat habitats in woodlands, swamps, or mountains.
Why is the proximity of humans to wild animals worrisome?
While no one can deny that this little creature is “beautiful,” as one commenter described it, this and many similar encounters may be the result of human intrusion into natural habitats and subsequent assimilation and urbanization of these areas.
There is almost no place in the world that is immune to this behavior. Habitat destruction is the leading cause of animal endangerment worldwide, according to a 2022 study published in the journal Conservation Science and Practice.
In addition to physically transcending natural land, many human urban practices rely on the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, producing large amounts of carbon pollution that raises atmospheric temperatures and can disrupt the flow of natural resources such as water and certain plant species in a given area.
Bobcats, although native to North America, have never lived as close to human communities as they do now—even if they often try to avoid humans, as the “shy” behavior of the bobcats in Santos’s post demonstrates.
Unfortunately, in some cases, the building’s proximity can trigger confrontations or even conflicts between humans and bobcats, especially since many passers-by approach unfamiliar wildlife out of curiosity.
These encounters can end badly for both animals and humans, with many species, including bobcats, displaying aggression when provoked. In many parts of the United States, animals that end up harming humans are euthanized by authorities, regardless of whether their hostility is justified.
What are we doing about this?
For your part, never approach a wild animal without prompting. You may be tempted to get closer to get better photos, but remember that close encounters can quickly escalate and spiral out of control. As always, if you suspect a problem, please notify your local authorities.
In the meantime, since bobcats and other similar species are often attracted to a simple meal, taking simple steps like keeping all human and pet food indoors and securing litter with appropriate covers can help human and wildlife communities coexist more smoothly.
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