As I was tidying up the house yesterday afternoon, I glanced out the window and saw a huge bobcat sitting in our backyard! Not out in the open space where we usually see them, this guy was sitting right where I'd been playing with our dog about ten minutes earlier. I ran and got my husband and the camera. (Unfortunately the battery was low so the photos came out soft and overexposed.)
Then the strangest thing happened! When my husband went out on the deck to photograph the bobcat, instead of ignoring us like they usually do, this one got up and started trotting right toward us. For a moment, I thought he was going to leap right up onto the deck and attack us as though we were paparazzi! Then at the last second he abruptly turned right instead, and ran alongside bushes underneath us. Wow, I'd never seen that behavior before. I wonder what was up? Bobcats usually seem disinterested in humans and if we give them plenty of space, they calmly go on about their business. This guy was different. Maybe he had been harassed or hurt by someone?
Just before disappearing around the side of our house, he stopped to glance back up at us.
Hoping for another glimpse, we ran to the front door just in time to see him crossing the street. He wasn't pleased to see us again, he looked scared. He didn't strut off slowly the way so many others have done. This guy was spooked and took off running. How sad, I wonder what happened to him?
I don't recall seeing this particular bobcat before. Last spring, a litter of three were born and raised in the ravine nearby but they haven't been around for a few months. Maybe he's one of them, just more mature now? He's much larger, his coloring is lighter and less spotted, no ear tufts, and he had longer "ruff," fur on the sides of his face. For comparison, you can see other bobcat photos from previous posts here and here. What a wild experience, I LOVE living in Bodega Bay!!!
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Great pictures! But a little scary too!
ReplyDeleteHi Cherrie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I know what you mean. This is the first time I was a little scared and I guess it's because he was too. Usually they're so indifferent. We just leave them alone and they remain cool.
Cheers!
hi Kathlene, saw your site, love it. i spent last august in sonoma and am now considering move from Kansas City to the coast, in particular Bodega Bay which seems nicely situated for trips north and south and inland to wine country along the russian river. but i have a pointer, and he needs some off-leash time every day. are there places the locals can let their dogs run free? i see most places beaches trails say leash only. any suggestions appreciated, Jon Guillory
ReplyDeleteHi Jon, I know what you mean. Dogs are not allowed on several Sonoma Coast beaches because they have areas that are environmentally protected for endangered birds and other habitat. But dogs are allowed on Doran Beach and some of the northern beaches, like Portuguese Beach. Technically dogs are supposed to be on leashes but I often see people letting them run off-leash on some of the more remote beaches when very few others are around.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathlene,
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading about your encounter with the local predator, Lynx rufus. I've seen them in West Marin out by Pt. Reyes. Your feline was probably out on a mouse hunt in the field behind your house. He or she didn't like the intrusion, do doubt, so it slunk out to find a quieter spot.
Keep these stories coming! All we've got are deer, wild turkeys, skunks, squirrels, coyotes and the occasional raccoon.
Norm
Hi Kathlene,
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading about your encounter with the local predator, Lynx rufus. I've seen them in West Marin out by Pt. Reyes. Your feline was probably out on a mouse hunt in the field behind your house. He or she didn't like the intrusion, do doubt, so it slunk out to find a quieter spot.
Keep these stories coming! All we've got are deer, wild turkeys, skunks, squirrels, coyotes and the occasional raccoon.
Norm
Hi, Kathlene, Wow! Awesome! I think you made some good observations and a kind of intuitive knowing that not all bobcats are the same. Same as coyotes. You never know. Mostly these two breeds seem to take off and are human shy, and not attacking, but one cannot count on that, for sure! Great photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathryn! Funny, I'd be afraid of a coyote encounter but not bobcat. Maybe it's because they're smaller. But of course, I give them all plenty of space and just admire them from a safe distance.
ReplyDelete