For those who have never observed a bobcat in the wild; it is an exhilarating experience. They are reclusive & seldom seen. I was here in Truckee for about 20 years when I saw my first one along the "West Loop" of the Truckee river.The one imaged above was seen "up close & personal". Three, late winter-early springs ago I was in my living room and heard a loud thump* coming from our back deck. I turned a saw this magnificent animal, on its haunches on my deck rail. It was almost robotic in that it was slowing rotating its head side-to-side. It was not more than 10 feet from my window. My camera was readily available. I grabed it and went to the patio door, hoping that he/she was still there, it wasn't. It was slowly walking up a snow-patch off our deck with its back to me. I hissed and it turned around &...I clicked the camera.
Thus far I haven't seen a mountain lion up here in the mountains. They are around because last year one was sighted about a 1/2 mile from my home and tracks were identified about a 1/4 mile away. If my heart was pumping when I saw the bobcat...I hope I don't pass-out when I seen lion in close.
* I later attributed the loud thump to the probability that the bobcat attempted to ambush (from a close-in tree) a squirrel or chipmuck that are frequent visitors since I live on the edge of the forest.
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Franky, I've seen three in the Hirsch, and Rachel has seen a mountain lion
ReplyDeleteMatt----Relative to the mt. lion I mentioned in my post; I did see something BIG that looked like one last year. But, it was a quick, filtered view through the trees... so it was not was not a 100% for-sure sighting.
ReplyDelete"Jerimiah" Pisciotta
Frank-
ReplyDeleteI had the pleasure of helping an injured bobcat that had been hit by a car near Sierraville last spring.I just found out today that it was rehabbed and released back into the wild.I've seen a few others over the years around here in the Sierra Valley and along the upper reaches of the North Yuba.I've only seen one mountain lion but I know they have seen me plenty.
I will always remember your first sighting of the bobcat as it is my only one so far. That was a few years back. Jim
ReplyDeleteJay----Wow!...that is really "up-close & personal". You aided a magnificent animal.I commend you.
ReplyDeleteFrank
Frank,
ReplyDeleteI've had the honor to see two mountain lions. One was on Fred's Mountain and the other out of Gerlach. The one in Gerlach was stalking a prongorn buck out of some crested wheatgrass. Our dog went on point, my son walked into the shoulder high-grass and ten yards away out pops a lion. Too close for comfort.
Mickey---indeed...a bit too close for comfort...
ReplyDeleteMy bro/sis-in-law actually witnessed a lion kill on a deer in the Trinity Alps about 20 years ago. I spoke with people in the Mountain Lion League (or some sort of name) and they said that was an extremely rare sighting.
Frank
Hey Frank. I know this is a little past time for commenting, but just last week I had one run across the road right in front of me. We had one walk down the driveway the first year or two we lived here, but haven't seen him since. I do have a picture of a Mountain Loin in the front yard.
ReplyDeleteMark