Wild Visitor to Schuster Center

Looks like a domestic cat, right? No, this is a wild Arizona Bobcat. See her fluffy little cotton tail? Native to several regions in Arizona including Scottsdale, the bobcat depending on male or female will weigh between 15-35 pounds. This bobcat (female) was in an area used for water drainage control on the north side of The Schuster Center. We are guessing 25-30 lbs for our bobcat.

This area has become our personal mini-Sonoran desert. Some of us, like me, are fortunate to have large windows that face this beautiful desert oasis as we are working. Believe me, sometimes it’s hard to concentrate with all the wildlife playing and roaming outside our tinted windows. (We can see them, but they can’t see us!) We see coyotes, roadrunners, (Beep! Beep!), cottontail jackrabbits, ground squirrels, quail and coveys, and all varieties of birds including hummingbirds, morning doves and woodpeckers. Then there are the lizards, beetles and monarch butterflies — no rattlesnakes or scorpions yet; but they are around.

Foliage consists of Mesquite and Ironwood trees, Bird of Paradise plants with their tiny feather-like, light olive-colored leaves, flowering into bright reddish orange and yellow buds atop thin branches. In the herb family, we have Texas sage with a purple flower peeking out amongst its grayish green leaves and Rosemary; ornamental pampas grass and other low flowering and perennial green bushes abound; good for a bobcat or coyote to rest in the shade on a warm summer day.

Brenda Penwell, President and CFO, (the brave one), took photos as our bobcat was sitting in the shade. She “eyed” Brenda and Brenda “eyed” her right back. I think they had a mutual admiration for one another’s braveness. Bobcats will usually not attack humans. But Brenda did take a chance. Still, we thank her so much for getting these great photos (see our snapshot section for more photos). Now Brenda, in your spare time, why not get a picture of that coyote that comes by every so often?

And don’t think we all haven’t had our adventures with the wildlife. One day, we had to cover a grate with large metal openings because one momma quail kept leading her babies over to it. We had one mishap and that was it — several of us ran out to cover the entire grate placing river rocks on top to secure the cardboard poster we used. Momma and rest of babies were ok after that.

Another time, Lisa had the largest lizard on her window I’ve ever seen. It was the Daddy lizard of all time. If it had been brightly colored in a pink and black pattern, I would have guessed it to be a gila monster. It was sure big enough to give a gila monster a “gila” of a fight. Lisa said the reason he was so big was due to his gorging on cherry tomatoes. Our Dianne Stuve (Groovy Stuvy), gives the leftovers from our cafe to
the animals outside, i.e. cherry tomatoes and assorted fruit and vegetables. Apparently, Mr. Lizard swallowed his cherry tomato whole and it was protruding from his throat like a boa constrictor when it swallows its’ prey! Guess he digested it ok. Our woodpeckers love the pineapple. Lisa thinks they must have tropical tastes.

Well, we do get plenty of work done around here but what a wonderful place to work and a great place to live! Especially right now (October) when the rest of the country is facing months of permafrost while we’re walking around in shorts, sandals and t-shirts!

That’s all folks! Hope you enjoyed my first blog! Maybe, I’ll do one on graphic design as that is what I do for The Schuster Center. And, I know just a wee bit about marketing for dentistry as I’ve worked with Dr. Schuster and his marketing team for 28 years.