A bobcat attacked and killed a pet Chihuahua in the Rockrimmon neighborhood Wednesday night, in what the state Division of Wildlife characterized as a reminder that small pet owners should take special precautions before letting animals outside, especially at dusk and dawn.

The attack was reported about 8:20 p.m. on Mesedge Drive near Arequa Ridge Drive, an area of northwest Colorado Springs where bobcat sightings have been on the rise.

A pet sitter had let the dog out and witnessed the strike, said Dave Lovell, a DOW spokesman. The sitter and a neighbor managed to harass the predator until it fled, but not in time to save the pet.

"It's really rare to hear about a bobcat attacking and killing a dog, versus lions or bears," Lovell said.

Bobcats are about twice the size of a house cat and can be identified by the short, bobbed tail that gives them their name.

They typically make their home in the rocky foothills west of Colorado Springs but may venture east along stream channels in search of food. Wildlife officials believe they are being lured into the Rockrimmon area by a plentiful rabbit population, a favorite meal.

"We've had a good year moisture-wise. It's produced a lot of food for the rabbits, so they're kicking out more babies," Lovell said.

There have been multiple sightings of a mother and her two kittens in the area in the past week to 10 days. It's unclear if the same cat was responsible.

Many dogs are large enough to keep bobcats at a distance, to the point that the Division of Wildlife doesn't even keep records on bobcat attacks on pets.

The Chihuahua in Wednesday's attack was likely mistaken for a rabbit.

"It just happened to be the right size, and it triggered a response for that bobcat," Lovell said.

Pet owners -- especially those with dogs smaller than a Labrador -- should check their backyards before letting dogs outside, Lovell said.

They may consider keeping the dogs on a leash and accompanying them outside, even carrying bear spray or a similar product, he said.

Clearing brush from around houses may deprive predators of easy hiding places, and motion-sensing lights and especially flood lights may have a deterrent effect.

Bobcats usually hunt at first and last light. They are unlikely to strike if a human or large animal is in the area.

Lovell said educating pet owners is the best path to preventing attacks, though further intervention would be considered if any more are reported.

Wildlife sightings are hardly rare for residents of the Golden Hills subdivision, which has an 88-acre common ground that occasionally makes for some exciting viewing.

"We have occasional mountain lions, bear, coyotes and a bobcat once in a while," said Lowell Bohn of Arequa Ridge.

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