I had another awesome morning photographing wildlife at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma yesterday. It was one of those days that will stay with me for a long time, filled with unexpected sightings and a bit of humor.
Early Morning Adventures
When it got light enough to start, I began driving the auto tour road. The cool July morning, at around 67 degrees, was perfect for wildlife watching. My friend and fellow photographer Mia was with me again. As we drove, I mentioned to Mia that I usually see bobcats here but hadn’t seen one in a while. Little did I know, that was about to change.
The Doe and the Bobcat
At the 4-way intersection, we spotted a Whitetail Doe on the edge of the road to the west. I turned the truck to face south so Mia could get a good shot from her side. As I turned, I noticed a Bobcat in the road. Excitement surged through us both. We quietly exited the truck, using the doors as a blind.
The Bobcat seemed unbothered by our presence. It even took a moment to groom itself right there in the road. After a few minutes, it wandered south along the road before disappearing into an overgrown field. We tried to follow but lost sight of it.
A Wild Encounter
We heard the Doe “blowing” while we were photographing the Bobcat, which made me think it had smelled the Bobcat. However, the Doe was looking into the field, not at us. I speculated that the Bobcat might have kittens nearby, and the Doe was alerting to them.
When we returned to the intersection, we saw something incredible: the Doe was charging at another Bobcat! The Bobcat got into a defensive stance but kept an eye on me as I exited the truck for photos. The Doe charged again, but the Bobcat was busy watching me, thinking I might be the bigger threat. It turned and slowly walked away, traveling a short distance down the road before turning to look at me one more time and then disappearing into the brush.
I believe the Doe had a fawn nearby and was fiercely protecting it. Although I didn’t see a fawn, the Doe’s behavior suggested as much. It reminded me of a previous encounter involving a Coyote and a protective mother, which you can read about here: (https://stevecreek.com/a-mothers-fearless-resolve/).
A Bit of Humor
Something funny happened during all this excitement. As I was focused on the action, I wondered why Mia wasn’t photographing it. Later, I found out she got tangled up in the seat belt and couldn’t get out of the truck quickly enough! It was funny in hindsight, but I’m sure Mia didn’t find it amusing at the moment. I’ll try not to tease her too much after she sees my photos of the Bobcat and Doe.
Wrapping Up the Day
After this amazing start, we continued our adventure. We photographed Dragonflies, Skink, and a beautiful female Indigo Bunting before calling it a day. It was one of those perfect mornings that remind me why I love wildlife photography.
Until next time, happy shooting and keep exploring the wonders of nature!