Bobcats are elusive and nocturnal, so they are rarely spotted by humans. I’m not sure how I get so lucky. I was outside of my vehicle when I saw this Bobcat road hunting. I thought I would only be able to get a few quick photos before it spotted me. This Bobcat walked right past me at a distance of about six steps. It paused a few times to look at me but I think that was mainly because of the sound of my camera.
We were at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.
30 Comments
Incredible images Steve! Lucky you are, want to spread some of that luck this way?
Thanks John! I will try and pass some your way.
Wow, that’s a lucky find for you!
It was amazing!
Holy smoke Steve – those are amazing shots. I’ve never seen a bobcat outside of a zoo – to say nothing of being up so close…. lucky you, absolutely. Fabulous! And well done to get such great images.
Thank you Barbara!
Great pictures, Steve!
These are awesome, Dad. These are the types of pictures I like to see.
Thanks Robbie and Adam!
Wow! Fantastic photos- way to make the best of an opportunity.
Thank you Mike!
Magnificent photos Steve. The only time I saw a bobcat was in the sonoran desert of AZ when my motorcycle had scared it into crossing the roadway, 2005.
What a fortunate encounter, and what wonderful photos! I’ve seen them a few time, and I have a small collection of butt shots.
Absolutely spectacular!!!!! How do you get so lucky??? #3 is my favorite.
He sure has long legs. Absolutely smashing series.
Thank you all!
These images are outstanding! What a glorious experience for you to view such a gorgeous creature up close and in the wild.
Fantastic Steve. Luck is being in the right place at the right time (but being prepared and actually getting out there)! Way to go. I’m thinking your heart beat a little faster while you grabbed these shots.
Beautiful cat.
Great Shots! Gorgeous Bobcat! He does have some long legs for a Bobcat…
Sorry I missed these beautiful photos yesterday, it is so amazing when wild animals come right up to you, you must have a peaceful aura about you. It must amaze you too! Really wonderful capture of this young, healthy bobcat, and other than that tiny notch in its ear, no markings of major altercations with other wildlife, the last 3 pics look so much like my domestic tiger cats, same strips & spots. Did you see this bobcat at Seqoyah or closer to home?
Scott, My heart rate was a little fast.
Judi, these were taken at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.
We have a good population of bobcats out here in Marin County, California, but I haven’t been that close to one. You were fortunate Steve.
Thanks Jim, I have been enjoying your photos on your blog: http://jimcoda.wordpress.com/
Steve: I had to take a look at your Bobcat Images from Oklahoma. The way wild animals behave is beyond us. For him/her to have walked so close to you was exceptional.
Here’s a quick aside about Oklahoma. My wife and I were traveling home from Texas when she spotted a red rock she wanted for our garden in Peoria Heights. I stopped, walked up an embankment, picked it up, and was stunned to see a baby scorpion resting under it. “It took off and I took off before its mama showed up.” My tracks getting out of there are probably still embedded in the earth. Take care and keep it up! Dan
Thank you Dan! Sometimes I just get plain lucky with my encounters with wildlife. I am not a big fan of scorpions either.
Fantastic captures. I’ve had 2 occasions where I wound up that close to a bob cat here in California; once hiking in central Cali along a rocky hilltop, had one startle from under some boulders and took off like a shot down the hill from me, and another (some years later) while climbing a rock strewn hillside after a day of fishing, accidentally cornered in a hollow between some rocks with a fresh wild turkey it had killed. The latter of the two made it well known that he was not happy to see me, lol! No camera with me on either occasion, unfortunately.
Allen, thanks for sharing your encounter!
Awesome! I still need to add one of these guys to my portfolio. GREAT shots, you lucky duck!
Thanks Lela!