- September 12, 2024
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With the unexpected wildlife of Longboat Key, being a groundskeeper on the island can be a surprise every day.
Seaplace Condominiums Director of Operations Wendy Cichowski said that this has been the summer of wild animals on the Key.
After dealing with an overpopulation of rabbits this year, the Seaplace groundskeeper spotted a bobcat on the property at 2045 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
"He was mowing the lawn one day on a standing mower by one of our drainage pipes," said Cichowski. "The bobcat was in the pipe, and we think it got scared by the mower because it immediately came out of the pipe, startling our groundskeeper."
With the bobcat running one way and the groundskeeper running the other, the mower was left driving along the grass.
When the staff heard the story, they didn't believe it at first, thinking it was a house cat. At other condominiums dealing with the same rabbit problem, feral cats are used to lower the rabbit population. Cichowski suggested the cat he saw was one that strayed along the beach to Seaplace.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, bobcats are about twice the size of a domestic cat, and can weigh from 12-28 pounds. "Bobcats are stealthy animals and not often seen even though their numbers are abundant," the FWC said on its website. "Catching even a fleeting glimpse of this secretive and beautiful creature can make anyone's outdoor experience more enjoyable."
The FWC lists its favorite foods as rodents, birds and, of course, rabbits.
After later finding rabbit remnants in one of the cages used to catch them at Seaplace, this convinced the employees that perhaps there was something to the bobcat report, and it must still be on the property.
Rather than find the discovery "enjoyable," they started brainstorming how to catch the animal.
Based on research online, the Seaplace staff experimented by using different methods to catch the bobcat, such as cat litter and a spice mix.
"We tried everything," said Hannah Butler, the assistant general manager at Seaplace. "It was very interesting to look up of these ideas and hear how they turn out. After no luck, we asked one of the trappers for the rabbits to take care of it."
The solution is a cage trap by the drainage pipe where the bobcat was spotted with raw meat to lure the animal. If it were to fall for the bait, the trap closes, trapping the animal humanely inside so it can be relocated. According to FWC, traps must be checked every 24 hours, all live-captured bobcats must be released alive, either at the capture site or on a property in the same county of capture that is 40 acres or larger.
Jeff Norris from Affordable Wildlife Services, who is handling the animal situation at Seaplace, said that the rabbit population is what draws animals such as bobcats to the island. He has seen no signs that the bobcat is still on the property, but continues to tend the cage.
"It is always amazing to see wildlife on Longboat Key and places like it because of how many buildings it has," said Norris. "But the weather and flooding have really affected where the wildlife ends up."
If a person happens to see a bobcat again on the island, Norris recommends finding an object to put between the person and the bobcat, such as an umbrella. He also recommends getting a horn or an item that makes a loud noise because it will scare the animals off.
According to FWC, the animals are not known to pose a threat to humans, but they may hunt small pets.
The rabbit population has also lowered since Affordable Wildlife Services has tended to the issue. After having many calls about the rabbits eating the bushes, grass and vegetation, there are about 10 traps around the property. Affordable Wildlife catches the rabbits and takes them to a farm in Manatee County.
Cichowski is grateful to be able to catch the rabbits in an ethical way where they will be taken to a safe place. With hopes that the bobcat is gone, she plans to keep a watchful eye.
