Tweeters,

I didn't think I had anything to add to the discussion on the bobcat in the Sammamish Plateau area.
But, I have been engaged in some conversations about predator shooting (or other forms of persection)
and the resulting habitat alienation (meaning the animals quit hanging around people when their
lives are in jeopardy). When people stop shooting, poisoning, trapping, hurting, these wild animals,
there is a gradual development of tolerance and habituation. I think we are seeing it with Bald
Eagles. Grizzly Bears in Glacier National Park would be another pretty good example (Now-a-days
they just move off the trail into a little cover to let hikers pass on the trail. Most of them
used to run at full tilt while hikers were still a long way off).

Washington is not long from its wild west roots, where many kept weapons on their person, their
tractor, or close to the back door. Many predators, mammals particularly, got shot. This is a
strong selective force that weeds out the individuals lacking fear of people. It selects for animals
that are shy and keep their distance. I strongly believe that the tendency to kill wildlife in the
back yard (or back 40) has diminished to such a degree that less wary, bolder animals are surviving
and reproducing and contributing to the increase in animals that make their living just off of our
door steps.

Cougars, Coyotes, and Black Bears might be examples of this as well as Bald Eagles. Bobcats may be
in this mode as well. In parts of the eastern U.S., where I might argue (without much knowledge)
that shooting and other forms of predator persecution declined even longer ago than it has here,
Bobcats have been documented to kill and eat lots of house cats. Perhaps, as Bobcats get more
comfortable coming around our subdivisions on the outskirts of town, we will see the same thing
happening more often here.

I am not trying to demonize these wild predators. They will do the things that make them successful
in surviving and reproducing. Many of us cherish opportunities to see these wild critters and it
is understandable that many people don't want to see them harmed. I suppose I am saying, simply,
that we should also be aware of the trade-offs.

Kelly McAllister
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olympia, Washington