Benbrook Bobcats Aren’t Just the School Mascot.

The Bobcats may be Benbrook Middle-High School’s mascot, but they’re also part of life in Benbrook.

Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, the Bolton family photographed what appears to be a bobcat after it jumped a backyard fence off Winscott Road and caught prey in broad daylight.

The photos quickly got neighbors talking. Some believed the animal had caught a house cat, while others pointed to the bushy tail in the wider photo and said it was likely a squirrel. A few even wondered if it was a mountain lion.

Based on the photos alone, it’s impossible to confirm exactly what the predator or its prey was. However, several residents noted the animal’s short, bobbed tail, a key feature of a bobcat. Others cautioned that zoomed images can make both animals appear much larger than they really are.

Whatever the case, the sighting is a reminder that bobcats are native to this area. Residents reported previous sightings near Winscott Road, Timbercreek, Mary’s Creek Drive, and the wooded creek corridor near Wells Fargo Bank. Others recalled losing pet ducks and rabbits to wildlife.

As Benbrook continues to grow, encounters with native wildlife remain part of living alongside the area’s creeks, wooded spaces, and Benbrook Lake.

If You Encounter a Bobcat

Bobcats are naturally shy and rarely pose a threat to people. If you see one:

• Keep your distance and stay calm.
• Bring children and small pets inside or keep them close.
• Never approach, corner, or feed a bobcat.
• If it doesn’t leave, make yourself look larger, speak firmly, and slowly back away.
• Never run.
• Avoid leaving pet food or other food sources outdoors that attract wildlife.
• If a bobcat appears sick, aggressive, or unusually bold, contact Benbrook Animal Control. Call 911 only if there is an immediate emergency.

Giving wildlife plenty of space is the best way to keep both your family and Benbrook’s wild neighbors safe.