Rabid Bobcat Shot by Arizona Man Protecting His Wife

A woman sounds like she’s lucky to have avoided a major health scare when her husband stepped in to save the day. The problem? A crazed bobcat. According to Fox10, the animal had attacked the family’s dog and was getting ready to attack the woman when her husband stepped in.

The scary situation played out in the couple’s yard. The unnamed homeowner told the outlet that he called the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) after the incident to report it.

The agency responded to the home, where they removed the bobcat to take it in for testing. According to the outlet, agents confirmed that the bobcat had been infected with rabies at the time of the attack.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time this year rabid bobcats have been a problem in the state. AZGFD reported a series of rabid bobcat attacks in May. Here’s what we know.

A Dog Was Mauled by a Rabid Bobcat

Fox10 reports that the incident happened in Pine, Arizona, on Aug. 29. The homeowner said that the bobcat came into his backyard where his wife and family dog were. The homeowner ran out back after hearing the sounds of the attack, where he found his dog covered in blood and the bobcat advancing on his wife.

He says he then ran inside to grab a gun, which he turned on the bobcat before it could attack his wife. After realizing how out of character the bobcat’s behavior had been, the homeowner told Fox10 that he called AZGFD, which came out to collect the cat’s body.

A spokesperson from the department later confirmed the findings with the outlet. “The results did come back positive,” Alexandra Flickinger explained. 

Rabid Bobcats Were a Problem Back in May as Well

Aggressive bobcats were reported in the area of Williamson Valley back in May, according to a AZGFD news release. “The weather is warming up and people are outside,” Dr. Ann Fan, AZGFD wildlife veterinarian, said in the May 4, 2026 statement. “At this time of year, we often see an uptick in the number of wildlife submitted for rabies testing as a result of contact with people or their pets.”

“In Arizona, the principal rabies hosts are bats, skunks and foxes, although other mammal species like bobcats and coyotes may carry rabies as well,” Dr. Fan continued, saying that rabies activity within these groups can affect other species, like cats and dogs. 

While these two areas aren’t close (Google Maps puts them at about 117 miles from one another), it does highlight the importance of being mindful when you’re around wildlife.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 100,000 people in the U.S. are vaccinated against rabies following exposure each year.

Unfortunately, rabies is almost always fatal in humans and animals once they start showing symptoms, so it’s important for people to seek medical attention when they come into contact with a wild animal like this.