PHOENIX -  If you happen to see a bobcat near or around your home, the Arizona Game and Fish Department says there's no need to panic. The department is taking a high volume of calls from residents around the valley who are encountering bobcats near their homes and neighborhoods, but that is not unusual for this time of year.

"This is the season when female bobcats have their babies or cubs," says Joe Yarchin, an Arizona Game and Fish Department urban wildlife specialist. "It just so happens that an urban environment unfortunately offers many sites for bobcats to use as dens, including underneath porches, in dry culverts, in  open spaces between backyard storage sheds and fences, and even on the flat roofs common in Arizona architecture."

It is not unusual to see bobcats in urban settings. Most of the calls are coming into the department from north Peoria, north Phoenix, the Sun City area, and north Scottsdale. The department is also hearing from residents in Mesa and Apache Junction. This time of year the department historically receives a lot of calls from people who see or think they may have seen a bobcat near their home.

Here are some things you should do if there is a bobcat on your property:

• Do not feed wildlife under any circumstances.
• Remove wildlife attractants, such as dog food and water bowls, from around your home.
• Make possible den sites or shelters unavailable by blocking them with fencing or other devices.
• Move small household pets indoors, but large dogs can actually act as bobcat deterrents.
• Let the animal know it's not welcome by making it uncomfortable. You can do this by spraying it with a hose, by illuminating the area at night and loudly playing a radio near the animal's resting or den site, or by banging pots and pans together.

"Do not touch, pick up or move bobcat cubs," says Yarchin. "Be assured that if you see cubs, the parents are not far. They might be out gathering food or just taking a break from their cubs, but they are nearby. Wait for the parent or parents to return to the cubs. Then let the adult bobcats know they are not welcome. They will move the cubs on their own."

"During a bobcat/human encounter, the human is the dominant player. If a person shows dominance around a bobcat, the animal should flee," says Yarchin.

Rabies is generally the only reason a bobcat will show aggression toward humans. Signs of rabies include staggering, foaming at the mouth, and lethargic or hyperactive behavior.

If a bobcat will not leave your property after you show dominance and try to frighten it away, or if a wild animal is showing signs of rabies or other injuries, call the Arizona Game and Fish Department at (602) 942-3000.