Bobcat Attacks Continue In Richardson, Dogs Killed

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RICHARDSON (KRLD) - Homeowners in Richardson's Canyon Creek neighborhood are seeing bobcats daily now, but still aren't much closer to trapping any.

"They're sly and smart, and really getting brave," says David Dinsmore. "It's getting harder and harder to scare them off."

Dinsmore lost his Yorkie last week, when a bobcat boldly climbed over his backyard fence and carried her away. He found her dead under some leaves in the front yard.

Only days later, the exact same thing happened to Dinsmore's neighbor four doors down. The family was in the backyard with their dachshund, but that didn't stop a bobcat climbing the fence and killing their dog.

Others are encountering the bobcats while out and about in the neighborhood.

"My neighbor was walking her big dog when a cat just came up to her," Dinsmore says. "She was waving her arms, yelling and screaming like a mad lady. And it just stood there looking at her. Barely batted an eye."

The city of Richardson has doubled the amount of bobcat traps set up in the neighborhood. They don't use live bait in their traps, but rather put the smell of prey in there to lure the cats.

"We almost caught one in the trap in my front yard," Dinsmore says. "I'm pretty sure it sprung the latch on the bait door and got out."

Canyon Creek Homeowners Association held a meeting this week to organize plans to map the area or track the bobcats. No decisions were really reached.

Some have been divided on whether to kill the bobcats when they're trapped, or to relocate them. Dinsmore says most people he's talked to could care less.

"Everyone here on my street is paranoid now," he says. "We don't care how they leave, we just want them out of here."

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