I had an exciting wildlife encounter at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. I was walking one of the dirt roads around 7:30 AM when a beautiful bobcat emerged from a nearby soybean field. This wasn’t my first bobcat sighting in this area – I’ve seen both bobcats and coyotes here twice before. But it’s always thrilling to see these elusive creatures in their natural habitat.
Bobcat In Tall Grass
The bobcat caught sight of me almost immediately after stepping out of the field. It paused and watched me carefully for several minutes, allowing me to get some great photos. I was hand-holding my Canon 7D Mark II with a 100-400mm lens, so I had to be very still to get sharp shots. But the morning light was perfect, and I captured some images I’m really happy with.
I’ve learned that bobcats are territorial animals with well-defined home ranges. The sizes of their territories vary based on the distribution of prey and other factors. I’ve seen lots of signs of bobcats in this area – feces, urine markings, and paw prints. So I had a hunch I might catch one here if I was patient. My hunch paid off this time!
Photographing wildlife takes equal parts luck, skill, and preparation. But when it all comes together as it did yesterday, it’s an incredible feeling. I’ll be back at the Sequoyah NWR soon, hoping for another encounter with these wild cats.
Gear Used:
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
- Lens: Canon EF100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Technical:
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
- Date & Time Taken: August 26, 2018 (07:44:53 A.M.)
- Aperture Priority
- Aperture: f5.6
- Shutter speed: 1/1600 sec. (as determined by the camera)
- ISO: 800
- Focal Length: 400 mm
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