“Less than a foot away.”

On a superficial level, encountering wildlife in unexpected places can be exciting and fascinating. After all, it’s not every day that a bear, deer, or feline crosses your path.

But given the dramatic rise in wildlife sightings in recent decades, it is likely not only that human activities are encroaching on their natural habitats, but also that we continue to put these amazing species at risk with our frequent proximity.

What is happening?

Passersby and nature lovers Arthur Santos (@arthur.muller.arts) shared a short clip on TikTok of a wild cat charging across a human bridge, Caption That “it was less than a foot away.”

@arthur.muller.arts This bobcat came toward me, less than a foot away. He was in a hurry to get where he was going. When I realized that he was actually very close, such a shy, sneaky, majestic cat #Animalencounters #wildlife #closes #nature ♬ original sound – Arthur.Muller.Arts

“What a majestic, shy, sneaky cat,” Santos added.

While commenters were quick to gush over this elegant creature, many seemed to miss the fact that this lynx found itself in what was likely a local park, based on the footage — far from traditional lynx habitats in forests, swamps or mountainous areas.

Why is the proximity between humans and wildlife a concern?

Although no one could deny that this little creature was “beautiful,” as one commenter says describedThese and many similar encounters may be the result of human intervention in natural habitats and the subsequent assimilation and urban expansion of those areas.

There is almost no part of the world that is exempt from this behavior; According to 2022 He studies Published in the journal Conservation Science and Practice, habitat destruction ranks as the leading cause of animal endangerment globally.

In addition to physical encroachment on natural lands, many human urban practices rely on burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil, generating large amounts of carbon pollution that warms our atmosphere and may disrupt the flow of natural resources such as water and some plant species in a given area.

Bobcats, although native to North America, never lived as close to human communities as they do now—even if they often tried to avoid humans, as evidenced by the “shy” behavior of the bobcats in Santos’ novel. mail.

Unfortunately, the proximity of this building may lead to encounters and even conflict between humans and lynxes in certain circumstances, especially since many passersby approach the unfamiliar wildlife out of curiosity.

These encounters can end badly for both animals and humans, as many species – including lynxes – prove aggressive when provoked. In many parts of the United States, authorities euthanize animals that eventually injure humans, regardless of whether their hostility is justified.

What is being done about this?

For your part, never approach wildlife without warning. It may be tempting to get closer to take a better photo, but keep in mind that a close encounter can quickly escalate out of control. As always, alert local authorities if you suspect a problem.

Meanwhile, since bobcats and other similar species are often drawn to an easy meal, taking simple steps like keeping all human and pet food indoors and securing trash cans with appropriate lids can help human and wildlife communities coexist more smoothly.

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