A Crazy Day at the Refuge
What a crazy day at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma! On July 23, I was out at the refuge, hoping to photograph some of the incredible wildlife that calls this place home. My adventure began with a bit of a wait as a refuge employee was grading a road I needed to travel on. Once the road was clear, I continued my journey and encountered an unexpected wildlife spectacle.
Unusual Encounter: Bobcat and Coyote
As I rounded a bend, I spotted a Bobcat and a Coyote on the freshly graded road. Seeing these two predators so close together was strange, and it was obvious that some type of wildlife drama was unfolding. I drove as close as I dared, then quietly exited my pickup to begin photographing the scene from a safe distance.
Observing the Interaction
The Bobcat was approaching the Coyote, and as it got close, the Coyote would walk away. At one point, the Bobcat ran towards the Coyote, causing it to flee a short distance. After this brief chase, the two animals ended up further apart, with the Bobcat sitting on the road, watching as the Coyote traveled down the path.
Why Bobcats Chase Coyotes
This unusual behavior got me thinking about why a Bobcat might chase a Coyote, despite the Coyote being slightly larger. Here are a few reasons:
- Territorial Defense: Bobcats are fiercely territorial and may chase Coyotes to protect their home range and hunting grounds.
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Competition for Resources: Both species often compete for similar prey. A Bobcat might chase a Coyote to prevent it from accessing food sources within its territory.
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Protecting Young: If a Coyote ventures too close to a Bobcat’s den or kittens, the Bobcat may aggressively chase it away to protect its offspring.
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Natural Aggression: Bobcats are generally considered fiercer than Coyotes, despite their smaller size. Researchers note that Bobcats are typically more challenging to handle during capture and collaring compared to Coyotes.
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Opportunistic Behavior: In some cases, a Bobcat might chase a Coyote if it perceives a weakness or opportunity to assert dominance.
Coexistence and Competition
While Bobcats may chase Coyotes in certain situations, the two species generally coexist in many habitats across North America. Studies have shown that Coyotes and Bobcats can occupy the same territories, often using slightly different hunting strategies and prey preferences to minimize direct competition. Their interactions can vary depending on factors such as habitat type, prey availability, and population densities. In open habitats, competition between the two species tends to be higher due to less cover and potentially fewer prey options.
Instances of direct conflict between Bobcats and Coyotes do occur, including rare cases of predation, but these events are not common enough to significantly impact either species at the population level. Both animals have adapted to coexist in many ecosystems, demonstrating the complex and dynamic nature of predator-predator relationships in the wild.
For more insights, check out these articles: Coyotes and Bobcats Coexist and Bobcats and Coyotes: Can They Occupy the Same Habitats?.
A Friend’s Similar Encounter
Interestingly, a friend of mine, Sandy Berger, mentioned that she had seen a couple of Coyotes and a Bobcat on the auto tour road near where the road starts just a few days earlier. It seems that the Coyotes and Bobcats are particularly active this time of year at the refuge.
Final Thoughts
This encounter was a thrilling reminder of the dynamic and sometimes surprising interactions that occur in the wild. It’s moments like these that make wildlife photography so rewarding. The Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge never fails to provide incredible opportunities to witness and document the lives of its wild inhabitants.