09/01/2026
Over the years, I have encountered hundreds of urban Bobcats and urban Coyotes in DFW. Typically, I make a sighting at least every couple of weeks, even when I am not actively looking for these animals. Our city is actually a very accommodating habitat for these two animals.
In all these years, not a single Bobcat or Coyote has behaved toward me in a way that was problematic or threatening--hundreds of encounters, zero issues. This has been true regardless of whether I've had my dogs with me or not.
That's not to say these animals are not capable of getting into trouble. Coyotes and Bobcats can respond differently to different people. Everyone has a unique affinity for animals. It is always best not to engage with them and to let them go about their business undisturbed when they are behaving normally. Keep your distance and avoid them whenever possible.
Often, trouble with coyotes starts when people feed them in person. It does not take long for a Coyote to go from being grateful for a handout to expecting it to demanding it.
Some people worry about their pets, and sometimes this is a legitimate concern. But Bobcats and Coyotes much prefer hunting cottontails, rats, and squirrels to our pets. On the list of things that are a danger to our dogs and cats, Bobcats and Coyotes are at the very bottom.
But Coyotes and Bobcats are opportunistic predators. When the opportunity for an easy meal presents itself, these two predators usually cannot afford to take a pass.
In my experience, when a pet does fall victim to one of these predators, it is usually cats that fall to Coyotes and dogs that succumb to Bobcats. Coyotes seem to recognize their kinship with dogs, and the same is true of Bobcats and house cats.
On a number of occasions, I have seen a house cat and a bobcat square off in a screaming and spitting match, only to walk away from each other peacefully after the bluffing is done. But, smaller breeds of dog should be kept on a leash and supervised closely when outside--just in case.
And if Coyotes find a colony of undernourished feral housecats, they will partake.
