22 replies to this topic

[hahn23]

Reports from friends and neighbors suggested the wildcat roaming around was either a lynx, a very large bobcat or possibly a mountain lion. I had seen the tracks of a fairly large cat. This morning I received the call to come and photograph the cat which was feasting on a killed rabbit in the forest nearby. This was the largest bobcat (Lynx rufus) I'd ever seen. It was about twice as large as other bobcats I've photographed. I entertained the possibility it might be a lynx (Lynx lynx) based on size. It was not until I examined the photos closely that I became 100% certain it as a bobcat. The tail with white below and black above on the tip is the field mark which cinches the identification as a Bobcat. A Lynx has tail tip black above AND below, larger feet, longer legs, more pronounced ear tufts, and longer, grayer fur WITHOUT indistinct spotting. It would have been a huge surprise if the big cat had been a Lynx, since those are not observed here. Only recently have Lynx been reintroduced in Southern Colorado. Anyway, it was a joy to photograph this fine bobcat. 5 images below:

Edited by hahn23, 19 December 2010 - 06:48 PM.

[Mark Zemmin]

These are awesome. What a joy it must have been to photograph.

[Scrapinator]

What a beautiful Bobcat! You were truly fortunate to get those shots!

[hahn23]

Mark Zemmin, on 19 December 2010 - 03:23 PM, said:

These are awesome. What a joy it must have been to photograph.

Thanks! Yes, very much a joy to see this wildcat. He/she was a large bobcat. My friends thought it was a lynx. But, we don't have lynx in this part of Colorado. Although, we sure have a lot of snowshoe hares, the favorite prey of the lynx. The bobcat in the photos is very good at catching Nuttall's cottontails.

Edited by hahn23, 19 December 2010 - 07:01 PM.

[Rhonda]

What a beautiful big cat.

[hector]

What a beautiful creature. How much do you suppose he/she weighed?

[hahn23]

hector, on 19 December 2010 - 07:17 PM, said:

What a beautiful creature. How much do you suppose he/she weighed?

40# and 36" long with another 7" for the tail. Very large for a bobcat.

Footnote: In recent weeks, "Coffee on the Rocks" reported a bobcat coming every morning to the pond for duck breakfast. Might be this wildcat, or one of his clan.

[Allie]

Gorgeous cat. How lucky for you to be able to get so many fine photos. Was it close to town?

[hahn23]

Allie, on 19 December 2010 - 07:50 PM, said:

Gorgeous cat. How lucky for you to be able to get so many fine photos. Was it close to town?

I've promised the home owners (my friends) that I would not reveal exact location. Let's just say it was within 1/2 mile of "Coffee on the Rocks". By the way, I always deliver a frame-worthy print for any landowner who allows me access to their property for wildlife photography purposes. The image below is the one I will deliver to my friends. (And, it's one I will sell in our gallery.)

Edited by hahn23, 19 December 2010 - 07:58 PM.

[foxfire]

Absolutely Fantastic! = = = Beautiful Animal!

Foxter

[rcw]

Beautiful!

[mistylady]

Way to go, Richard! Your pictures certainly capture its beauty. Is it common to have a Bobcat so close to town? I would love to see one in the wild.

[mwilson]

Absolutely beautiful!

[hahn23]

mistylady, on 19 December 2010 - 08:12 PM, said:

Way to go, Richard! Your pictures certainly capture its beauty. Is it common to have a Bobcat so close to town? I would love to see one in the wild.

I see many more bears than bobcats. In the eight years I've lived in EP, I've seen four bobcats. Their population varies with the population of cottontails (and snowshoe hares at higher elevations). Currently, we have a lot of Nuttall's Cottontails. If you hike the ranger shortcut between Bear Lake and Nymph Lake, you'll see evidence of hundreds of snowshoe hares, (or a few hares who are extremely active).

[B-Jay]

Whoa! That is one big cat! Would this sighting be more apt to happen in the winter rather than in the summer or fall?

It's also nice to have friends and neighbors alert you to great wildlife sightings for you to photograph.

B-Jay