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Bobcats seen in Cottonwood Creek area
Photo Submitted by Richard Machos and C.J. Pedregon - Richard Machos was leaving his home and while pulling out of his driveway he noticed a bobcat roaming around behind his house.
By James Roth, jroth@acnpapers.com
COPPELL - As a resident of any city, people have an idea that wild animals still roam around. In Coppell, around Cottonwood Creek, residents have noticed armadillo, beavers, coyotes, snakes and skunks. Now they can add a bobcat to that list.
Richard Machos and C.J. Pedregon live in a home that backs up to the greenbelt by Cottonwood Creek.
Recently Machos was leaving his home and while pulling out of his driveway he noticed a bobcat roaming around behind his house.
Pedregon said Cottonwood Creek runs from Sandy Lake, around Coppell High School and connects with Denton Creek. She said Machos contacted city staff to let them know about the issue.
"Many of the fences around this area are bars instead of tall wooden fences," she said. "There are small children and pets around the area and we want them to be safe."
However, when Machos contacted the city, he was told that nothing could be done.
"I was told that they were in their natural habitat and are a part of the wildlife and nothing could be done," Machos said. "The city said their hands were tied."
Bill Davis, senior animal control officer for Coppell, said there has only been one incident of a bobcat attacking a person and that was because the cat was rabid.
"Unless a bobcat gets into someone's home, we cannot do anything. The Cottonwood Creek area is a natural wildlife area, we just ask residents to be aware," he said. "We have not received a report about any children or pets being attacked by a bobcat."
Davis said residents should be more concerned about coyotes attacking pets. In addition, Pedregon said there was once a pack of coyotes living on the opposite side of the creek from her home. However, once Coppell High School cleared the area to make room for tennis courts, the coyotes have not been as frequent.
"We do not see as many as we used to, but they are still around and we still see them," she said.
If residents are concerned about bobcats or coyotes, Davis said they can pick up a trap from the Coppell Animal Services.
"We will give residents a trap, but I have not seen anyone try to trap a bobcat before," Davis said. "Bobcats will not bother children, but residents should be aware who have smaller pets."
Machos and Pedregon want to make sure residents around Cottonwood Creek are aware of the wildlife living behind their home so they do not have an issue.
"There used to be cats that would roam our neighborhood, not anymore." Machos said. "Some of the fences on our street are not very high; it would be easy for something to get into someone's backyard. The city said a bobcat could scale an eight-foot fence easy. We have lived here for a long time; we just want other families to know what is going on."
For information about the wildlife around Cottonwood Creek, contact Coppell Animal Services at 972-304-3515.
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