WATCH: Scottsdale family finds bobcat and cubs living in their attic

When a Scottsdale homeowner reported loud crashes and the unmistakable sound of boxes being shoved around in the attic, they probably expected the usual suspects: roof rats, maybe a wayward squirrel.

They did not expect a bobcat and her cubs running what appeared to be a fully operational nursery above their heads.

 

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Verner Swenson, a wildlife removal specialist with Critter Evictors, responded to the call and quickly discovered the source of the ruckus. Peering through a hole in an elevated section of the roof, he was met with a pair of glowing eyes and a flash of teeth that suggested his presence was not appreciated.

“Don’t go sticking your hand in there,” Swenson advised in a video of the unwelcome guest posted to Instagram.

The mother bobcat had apparently followed an age-old desert real estate strategy: find a hole, snack on roof rats, move in.

Swenson said it’s not uncommon for predatory animals to follow rodent infestations into attics, clearing out the original pests before settling in themselves. The issue has gotten even more common as development expands into the once-open desert.

“Attics are secluded and quiet, a good place to rear their young,” Swenson told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “Since it’s up high, they don’t get bothered.”

Removal, Swenson said, involves a gentle approach: a process called “light hazing,” in which Swenson returns every 24 hours to shine a light into the space. That is enough to let the bobcat know a potential predator is onto their makeshift den.

His advice to homeowners hoping to avoid their own feline surprise? Be proactive. Seal your home’s exterior before something with retractable claws does the inspection for you.

“If you have your house sealed,” he said, “you don’t have to worry about things getting in.”

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