Bobcat this Morning!

[oldRoger]

At 10:30 this morning I glanced out the bathroom window, there looking in was a large, very healthy Bobcat, distance about 15 feet.
My largest Siamese is almost 18# and very fit, the Bobcat looked to be closer to 30# on a height length comparison. Its coloring was very tan with some dark tips, closely matching the Coyotes around here.
The Siamese cats and I go rat hunting every day and I have become careless in letting one of them get out of my sight while watching the other. Because as we all "know" Bobcats are nocturnal.
This was a wake-up call!

I did not have a camera, and the cat stayed about a minute, but here is a photo taken previously from the same window at one perhaps 20 feet away.

 

[Iggy]

Neat critters.

 

[hiram2005]

Nice cat. But how did you know his name was Bob?

 

[feralmerril]

I worked and hunted in many wild area`s and can only recall twice haveing seen any wildcats of any type!

 

[off road]

I once came around a blind corner while hiking (mountains east of San Diego, CA), and there was a bobcat in the trail. There was rustling in the bushes off to the side, so either it was in the middle of making a kill or there were kittens in there.

The cat was not happy! It snarled and hissed, and made charges at me repeatedly. I threw rocks at it and kicked dirt in its face, as I slowly tried to back away. Thing is, every time I backed away, that made it even more bold. This went on for several minutes, until I managed to back away far enough that it lost interest. I know that if I had turned and run rather than stand my ground, it would have been all over me!

 

[Jst1mr]

Last winter we noted cat tracks out behind the plant, so we rigged a game camera and a deer carcass....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMsOQ4V5RGc&feature=related

 

[feralmerril]

Is that somewhere on the shore of lake superior?

 

[perrazi]

what a lucky guy to see one that close.

 

[Jst1mr]

Is that somewhere on the shore of lake superior?

About 60 miles south, feral.

 

[Gamer]

Nice pic, thanks for sharing.

 

[oldRoger]

Out the window and to the right is a pine tree with a Squirrel feeder about 5' high. The Squirrels get whole corn; the spill attracts Wood Rats and Mice. I expect Bob or in this case probably Bobbie, is after any or all.

I know that they come at night, I sometimes smell strong cat odor from marking usually on my grill cover.
The house cats find lots of interesting scents in the morning, we have all gotten along just fine to date. The house cats hunt by day with me supervising, the Bobcats by night.
Suddenly the rules are all up for grabs.
I have seen a pair of Bobcats hunting around the yard during the day before this but only in the late winter and spring.

 

[kennyb]

neat critter !

 

[eyegots2no]

I knocked one down years ago and had it stuffed---beautiful. I hit one once late at night thinking it was a yote or I would not have done it. A couple of years ago one walked right by my deer blind panting like crazy as if he had just chased something---sat down within 18 feet for a while, then walked buy even closer---10 feet and strolled away. That was really nice to see. I need to get a good camera for times like that. Love cats. Hope you can get a good picture of him.

 

[truckemup97]

neat critter !

I have a friend who keeps one as a pet. If you get one from semi-domesticated parents, they're pretty cool. They do require quite a bit more upkeep than a house cat, and they're not legal as pets in every state. He feeds it cat food, but a couple of times a month he'll feed it a live chicken or fish. Pretty cool to watch nature in action.

 

[jlrhiner]

They routinely take fowl during daylight hours at my sisters. (Of course, everything gets locked up at night.) Around her, they're targets.