We frequently get a variety of critters visiting our yard but our favorites are the Bobcats{we also get Mule Deer, Coyotes, Hawks and Owl's as well}. Momma and the twins have been visiting on a regular basis, often spending hours in our back yard. We can watch without disturbing through our sliding glass doors though it does degrade the photo quality a bit.

The games played by the twins often mimic real world hunting skills such as stalking. Mom typically brings the family a fresh killed rabbit and when lunch is through there never so much as a scrap before mom sets out on another hunt leaving the kids to play at our place. Even when she is gone for hours the Kitt's remain right where she left them.

That's pretty cool.

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Nice pictures Steve. I would think its pretty rare for a Bobcat to be so trusting as to leave its kits in your yard.

Its amazing what wildlife may show up if you live in or near the woods, and are paying attention. Just last year I let my German Shepard out the side door to run around. Happened to glance at the front yard and seen a pretty large black bear watching us. Grabbed the dog, and yanked him back inside before he noticed it. Knowing that dog, it would have gotten interesting...

Larry

Very nice pictures. Hope you will post more pictures as they play and grow.

Love the photos! That's amazing. Wonder how old the kits are? How long have they been coming around?

Very surprising and a special treat for you and your family. I guess I would not know what to think necessarily; as I was of the opinion that they generally avoided urban areas/homes/ et cetera. I've come across them camping in the Boy Scouts, hunting, fishing, but never thought they would be so near to a home.

I live on a hobby farm and just the other night there was a really nice looking cotton tail on my back porch. I don't mind the critters (don't feed them unless you count the birds); so long as they aren't doing damage around the place.

I had a problem during the summer where rabbits were eating up my garden. Just put up some fencing and it took care of most of the issues. I enjoy squirrel hunting and will cook them up if we have enough. Around my place, there are so few I just admire them and let them be. Somewhat funny how when I used to live in the city squirrels were everywhere!

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OP here... We think the twins were born late this spring. First started seeing them in September when they were much smaller. There are lots of rabbits and birds (quail and doves), in our area so Bobcats do very well.

Waaaay too much fun watching them play and learn at the same time. They take turns stalking each other then wrestle around like domestic kittens. Pretty funny when one is sound asleep and his brother/sister decides it is time for pounce practice. We have seen them try and take down birds but they are just not quick enough.... yet!

It is interesting the coloring differences between the twins, one with more of a gold color while the sibling has more grey. Momma is still nearly twice their size and very beautifully marked.



Here is mom heading out to hunt down another rabbit:



This one likes to nap on the rug outside of our living room:

Pictures are way cool. Thanks for posting.

Incredible. Would never have dreamed that bobcats could be that comfortable around human territory. Mind if I ask where you live that the wildlife is that close by?

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

+1...I'm amazed.

Bobcats and foxes live right in the city in Dallas. Ditto coyotes, especially in some suburbs. The TV news shows them in peoples' yards, usually scaring the residents and the news crews.


They get excited about snakes, too.


I've personally seen gray foxes and a coyote in affluent north Dallas. Was nearly hit in the face by a Great Horned Owl.


Almost stepped on a water moccasin hiding under some dried grass by a stream.


I bet those cats are fun to watch.

Thanks for your ongoing posts on this family. Great stuff. Please keep 'em comin'.

We feel lucky if we see a bobcat once a year. They are gorgeous, and I love watching them stalk the bunnies. The wintertime ermine (summertime black-tailed weasel) are equally illusive. We are enjoying the company of a cow and calf moose this winter; but I like the cats far more; their playful unpredictability is truly a sight.

Cheers,

Bob

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Bob

OK, Capt Steve, I'll see your two bobcat kits, and raise them by four fox kits.

Not enough? How about six fox kits.

Love all of these backyard wild animal pics!

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We get a few visits here in Vegas by coyotes, fox, red tailed hawks and desert owls i am of course more intrigued with them than to ever harm them eventhough we have open season on coyotes i do not see them being a threat however a watchful eye is on them

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We live in a valley that has 168 acres of woodlands around it. Every night just at dusk for the past 25 years the Turkeys fly up into the tall Oak trees right behind our house to roost.

Then in the first light of dawn they glide down to begin their day. Here is a shot of one of the jakes showing his plumage to a hen:



We also see a lot of deer and in the Spring the mother's will bring their young fawns down to our yard:



This one was quite bold and walked right up to me:



digiroc

A Bobcat can take down a full grown deer by jumping on its neck and squeezing the throat in its jaws till it suffocates.

Just saying

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Wonderful photos! Well done, sir!

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

I have deer and pheasants in my yard a lot, especially in the winter.

But, those bobcats are really special. Your lucky to have such a great opportunity to observe them. I can watch wildlife for hours. Way better than any TV.

We live about 25 miles north of downtown Tucson in a retirement community. The elevation is about 3,400' and sits at the foot of Mt Lemon which is 9,200+'. No kids in residence here and us old folks don't move all that fast which probably helps.

We had to put our dog down last spring so the cats aren't bothered by canine scent. The yard is enclosed with low {42"}, walls and we have 5 trees in the back for them to play on/under.

I see you were/are a Coastie... thanks for your service. With my 100 Ton Masters it was always nice to know you guys were out there.

Urban wildlife can be a hoot. I did my thesis on urban bears in Los Angeles and have seen coyotes way South of the Rose Bowl in Temple City. We also had Amazon parrots there.

Here in town, I saw a bald eagle flying over my house in the downtown area just last Friday. We have had moose, black bear, coyotes here in town (only a block or two from my house)==where we live can only be called urban. Just before Christmas, we had a Merlin eating a bird in the parking lot at work. Wolves were sighted within city limits although on the edges 2 years ago (A poacher shot the alpha and the pack merged with another one).

While I really do enjoy seeing them every year a doe drops her fawn(s) in my back yard. She's 4 years old , I think. My complaint is that eat all my Hostas, and I have about a hundred, right down to the ground every year. Come spring, the deer and the Hostas both return. In the long run though, my money's on the deer.

Years ago, I was reading a report on deer mortality in the Inyo County (eastern Sierras) deer herd during winter. The number one predator was bobcats. I was surprised (I thought it would be coyotes). I knew the biologist (Vern Bleich) and called him up. He said the bobcats could run on top of the crust without breaking through.

The neighbors on each side of me and my daughter get deer in our yards frequently. Daughter lives two doors down from me.
Last year she had a newborn fawn in her back yard and then mom brought her to my back yard. They stayed around for about a week and then left.
Here are some pics of the back yard, which was my wife's passion before she passed away:

Bill--those grounds look like the Bellingrath Gardens or some botanic garden in a park! I could not do that with a crew of 20 field hands. Simply amazing. You do need a couple of cars on cinder blocks and some transmissions or engine blocks to class the place up.

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My wife loved her gardening, which was passed on to our daughter, whose back yard is spectacular also. I really don't know how my wife did it, as I cannot maintain it as she did. She fought cancer for 13 years and I think gardening helped her immensely. I have a landscaper take care of most everything now. I don't have much room for cars and such back there.
Used to have KOI in the lower pond, but the Herons got all of them. Still have some frogs though. It is peaceful and relaxing back there. About a month or so ago I had 5 deer walking around in the back, and one of them even walked over the bridge. Stayed in the back for quite awhile until they got spooked, jumped over the hedge, and ran off into the woods behind the school.

wow, that has to be one of the all-time great ackyards. Your wife had a talent that is plain to see.