Your Wildlife Professionals, Inc. is frequently asked questions about bobcats in Alexandria, Arlington, Bedford, Blacksburg, Bristol, Charlottesville, Covington, Chesapeake, Danville, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Loudon, Manassas, Martinsville, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke, Smith Mountain Lake, Staunton, Virginia Beach, Waynesboro, Williamsburg, Winchester, Wytheville, and Yorktown Virginia. Your Wildlife Professionals, Inc. is available to answer any questions you have about bobcats on your property.
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Do you charge for bobcat services?
- Yes. We are not funded by your local, state or federal government. We are a private business and must charge for our bobcat services.
Do you guarantee your bobcat services?
- We guarantee that you will receive the most courteous, honest, and professional bobcat management service in Virginia or its FREE!
​What does the bobcat service fee cover?
- The bobcat service fee covers us coming out, inspecting the damages, setting traps if necessary, and keeping them baited as long as it takes to catch the bobcats.
What does the price per bobcat fee cover?
- Cost effective to the customer knowing that we may not catch two or more bobcats every trip.
- The price per bobcat fee covers us coming out, removing the contaminated trap and bobcat from your property, re-setting a clean trap with fresh bait, disposal of the bobcat, cleaning and disinfecting the contaminated trap for the next customer.
How do you prevent from catching non-target animals?
- We use species specific baits and lures, but they do not always work the way they should.
- We try our best to set the traps in the area where the bobcats are traveling.
Do you charge for non-target animals?
- Yes we do. We still have to come out, release the animal if needed or remove the contaminated trap and animal from your property, re-set a clean trap with fresh bait, disposal of the animal if needed, clean and disinfect the contaminated trap for the next customer.
- It is the customers’ decision to have us remove or release non-target animals.
What if the bobcat trap is stolen?
- The customer is responsible for the trap. If the trap is set in an area that you feel like it will get stolen, please let us know so that we can move it.
- There is a replacement fee for stolen traps.
Can I release non-target animals myself?
- No. There is a chance that the animal could turn and bite you.
Do I have to sign a bobcat service agreement?
- Yes. In order to protect you and our company a contract must be signed.
- Our contracts spell out the services to be provided, as well as our guarantee and warranties.
- You should not do work with a company that is not willing to back up their work in writing.
How many bobcat traps will you set?
- We set a minimum of two professional grade humane live capture traps.
Why are the bobcat traps covered?
- We have rigid metal covers fabricated to cover the top, sides and bottom of the trap for several reasons.
- The top and sides are to protect the bobcat from the weather.
- The bottom is covered to help reduce any urine or feces from being left on your property. It also reduces damage that the bobcat can create by trying to dig its way out of the trap.
- This cover also prevents curious people that may pass by from seeing the bobcat in the trap.
- It also reduces stress to the bobcat while it is in the trap because it feels protected and unseen.
- We do not use cloth material to cover our traps because the wind may blow it off and the bobcat will usually pull the cloth into the trap leaving it uncovered.
Do you put enough food and water in the traps for the bobcat in case you cannot get to it right a way?
- Yes. There is plenty of food for the bobcat.
- Yes. In the warmer months we will attach water bottles to the traps if necessary. We like to place the traps in shaded areas to reduce heat and dehydration.
How long is the bobcat service fee good for?
- Your contract will specify the time period that it is good for, which is usually a minimum of 5 days.
- If the bobcat has not been caught in 5 days, which is rare, we will leave the traps out as long as it takes to catch them.
How long does your standard bobcat service last once you pull the traps?
- Our standard service fee is usually a minimum of 5 days. Once we pull the traps or after the bobcats have been captured, we will re-set the traps if another bobcat is seen within one week.
Why did you pull the bobcat traps before 5 days?
- Once the bobcats have been captured and we have not had any captures or you have not seen any activity in a week we will pull the traps. Leaving the traps set will only increase the chances of capturing non-target animals.
​How often do you re-bait the bobcat traps?
- Every 1 to 5 days depending on the time of year and weather.
- We like to keep the bait and lure as fresh or not dried up as possible. If you feel like the trap needs bait or lure call us and we will send someone out to re-bait it as soon as possible.
How soon can you set the bobcat traps?
- We will typically set the traps the day you call.
- We always have traps available.
- We carry the necessary traps needed in our trucks daily on a seasonal basis to better service the customer the day they call.
- We do not like to put anything off until tomorrow.
How often do you check the bobcat traps?
- State law requires that the traps are checked daily.
- We ask you as the customer to check the traps and notify us when we have an animal in the trap.
- By the customer checking the traps, this will eliminate additional costs to the customer and it will also speed up the removal process.
How do I get in touch with the technician once a bobcat is trapped?
- The contract has our office number on it as well as our business card.
- Our office manager will notify the technician.
We live out of town and cannot check the bobcat traps every day?
- We can provide a complete service to you.
- If this is a rental property we can contact the tenants and ask them to check the traps if necessary.
We are going out of town next week and do not have anybody that can check the bobcat traps daily?
- We will make arrangements to have our technicians check the traps for you.
- An additional cost may be incurred.
Will you pick up bobcats on the weekend and holidays?
- Yes, we work on the weekends.
- We typically shut the traps down for holidays so that the customer does not have to be bothered with checking them.
How long does it take for a technician to pick up a bobcat once I have called it in?
- We will make every effort we can to pick up the animal and re-set a trap as soon as possible.
- We often have two to three trucks out at a time and the office manager will notify the closest technician to your property.
Where do you relocate the bobcats?
- Our permit only allows us to relocate squirrels.
What do you do with the bobcat after you catch it?
- Our permit allows us to transport the live bobcat to another location to be euthanized.
- Bobcats may have rabies in Virginia.
- Relocating a bobcat may risk the chance of spreading rabies or other disease to an uninfected area.
How do you euthanize the bobcat or put them to sleep?
- There are several ways to euthanize an animal. We use the most humane methods approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
What if a bobcat is trapped when you come out to re-bait?
- We will call you or leave a note on your door that we picked up an animal.
What types of bobcat bait do you use?
- We use specialty paste baits and lures that are formulated for bobcats designed by professionals in our industry for professionals
How many bobcat traps will you set?
- We set a minimum of two traps, more if available.
Where do you set the bobcat traps?
- As close to the damage or travel area as possible.
Can the bobcat get out of the trap?
- No. We use a professional grade traps that lock and hold the bobcat once they close.
​CLICK HERE to find Your Wildlife Professional in Virginia.
