Bobcat

Photo by Stan Tekiela

by Stan Tekiela
© NatureSmart

February 1, 2016

I’ve been sitting for hours, driving for days and staring through binoculars at distant hillsides for longer than I can remember, searching for the elusive bobcat (Lynx rufus), the smallest of our wild cats. Today I am in California trekking the foothills searching for the smallest of the amazing felines. No doubt the Bobcat is the most widespread and common of our four cat species (Bobcat, Lynx, Cougar and Jaguar). In some regions of the country bobcats can be fairly common while in others not at all. Here in California they are fairly common but extremely elusive.

Days upon days of searching has resulted in finding about 8 bobcats so far. Spotting them isn’t the hard part. Getting close enough to capture some images is. When approaching these wild cats you must take in consideration not only not being seen and heard but also not being smelled. If the wind is in the wrong direction the cat is gone in a split second.

Just like any animal, Bobcats are highly adaptable and can live in a wide variety of habitat from forests, to deserts, forest edges to swamps. Basically if there is enough prey (food) around they can make a living.

The cats I am seeing are anywhere from gray to rusty brown. It is surprising the diversity in their coloration. Most are gray to brown with black frosting. They have extra-long fur around their neck that makes them look like they are wearing a collar. They have short black tufts of hair on the tips of their pointed ears and a very short or bobbed tail, hence their common name. Completing the look are dozens of black spots. I am amazed at how well they blend into just about any environment, to the point where if they step into the brush they disappear completely. Believe me it has happened many times on this trip.

Bobcats hunt small prey such as rabbits and quail but they will take just about anything they can catch. In this location the Bobcats really seem to like hunting gophers. They compete with the large coyote population here in California for the gophers. I’ve watched a number of cats creeping across an open field listening intently for any signs of digging gophers. Once located the cat hunkers down about 3 feet from the busy digging gopher.

A couple days ago, I had this very scenario unfold right in front of me. Hiding behind logs and other obstacles, I was able to creep up close enough to capture some images. The cat was completely locked onto the unsuspecting gopher. Through my camera’s lens I could see the cat, nearly flat to the ground, ears and eyes locked onto the spot where the gopher was digging.

Occasionally I could see the gopher’s head pop up as he was pushing dirt out of his tunnel. At these moments the Bobcat’s tiny tail starts twitching and swinging uncontrollably back and forth. The bobbies hind feet and legs coiled up tightly and really to spring into action. It was tense watching through the lens knowing how important it is for the cat to eat but on the other hand concerned that this gopher might lose its life.

For several long minutes this went on. All of us, the gopher, Bobcat and myself were all frozen waiting to see what would happen. Again the head of the gopher would pop out and the cat would begin to vibrate in anticipation the way cats do. I kept wondering why he doesn’t pounce on the visible gophers. I am sure that years of successful hunting has taught this cat well and when it’s the perfect time to jump. But the gophers disappeared down its hole once again.

Several minutes pass and it was obvious the gopher was not going to push out any more dirt. The cat relaxed a bit and repositioned its coiled hind legs. Then in a last act of desperation, the cat rushed the hole and stuck its paw way down the hole fishing for the gopher. No such luck, he came up empty pawed. Dejected and still hungry the cat walked off, once again looking and listening for a busy gophers. I’ve got another 4 days of hunting for images of bobcats. Until next time…

Stan Tekiela is an author / naturalist and wildlife photographer who travels the US and Canada to study and photograph wildlife. He can be followed on www.facebook.com and twitter.com. He can be contacted via his web page at www.naturesmart.com.