Mountain Lions vs. Bobcats – The Differences
Mountain lions and bobcats are two of the most feared predators native to North America. There are numerous physical qualities that differentiate bobcats from mountain lions. To begin, bobcats are typically 2-4 feet long with a bodyweight ranging from 11-35 lbs. Mountain lions are notably larger, with a body length of up to 6 feet and a bodyweight range of 66-187 lbs. Additionally, bobcats have shorter and thicker tails, compared to the longer cylindrical tails typically seen in mountain lions. Bobcats are also noted to have a gray to brown coat, as opposed to the orange-brown or yellow-brown color typical of mountain lions. Besides their difference in size, bobcats can be found across the United States, whereas mountain lions are usually more centrally located in the Western United States, especially areas near the Rocky Mountains. While bobcats are much smaller than mountain lions, the presence of either of these big cats on your property could lead to serious problems if you do not take the proper steps to cat-proof your property.
Avoid Feeding Their Prey
The first step of protecting your home from unwanted big cat intruders is to ensure that you make your property an unappealing home for these predators. One way to do this is to avoid feeding prey animals that could attract these cats to your land. Bobcats prey on smaller animals including chickens, mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits, or even small fawns. Mountain lions typically hunt deer, though they will also hunt smaller animals like porcupines, raccoons, or coyotes. While many people enjoy feeding wildlife, it is best to avoid leaving any food out for these critters as their presence attracts bobcats and mountain lions. If you have livestock such as chickens, build a strong and tall fence around your property and invest in a secure coupe.
Watch Out for Children and Pets
Though children and pets are not the typically desired prey of mountain lions or bobcats, they are opportunistic hunters that will attack if they are tempted by the promise of an easy meal. To protect your children, ensure that you remain vigilant and watchful of them while playing outside. Both of these big cats typically hunt at dawn and dusk, so these are the most likely times for an attack to occur. To protect your pets, avoid leaving them outside during these times or when you plan on being away from home.
Set Alarms
If you are looking for a more rigorous big cat defense system, look to implement outdoor alarm systems to your property. There are two kinds of alarms that can help deter big cats from wanting to call your property home: timed alarms and motion alarms. Both of these alarms ultimately perform the same function of emitting a high-frequency beep that scares away predators. A timed alarm will beep at set times, typically around dawn and dusk, as these are the times when these big cats are most active. However, a timed alarm will require routine adjustments as the alarm needs to sound when the cats are typically entering the property. If this option is less appealing, motion alarms are a great alternative that will sound the alarm any time motion is detected. While these protection methods are effective, the noises created by these alarms can create disturbances not only to your neighbors, but also to your own family – especially during times you are asleep.
Nite Guard Solar Lights
For simple yet effective, humane, and inobtrusive protection from bobcats and mountain lions, install Nite Guard Solar Lights. Nite Guard Solar Lights function by flashing a red light that mimics the eyes of a large predator animal from dusk until dawn, frightening the real predators away from your home. Unlike other deterrence methods, these lights are automatic and solar powered, meaning they are self-charging and require no maintenance. Additionally, their soundless system will allow you to sleep peacefully through the night knowing that your land is safe from unwanted intruders. Nite Guard Solar Lights have an expected lifetime of three years, meaning you can enjoy peace of mind for years to come. If you want the best protection for your home, contact the experts at Nite Guard today.