But, we do have 4 more suspicious scene stalking species to interview. So we best not jump to conclusions.
If not the coyotes, perhaps the local bobcats are to blame? Maybe pinyon scratching posts are all the rage in the Mono Basin? Here's the 2 kitties the camera saw...
Classic bobcat-in-the-headlights pose
Just sneakin'
"Dude - your camera flash is totally wrecking my slink"
Checking out the burrow
And up the rock
Then back around, and out of here
As with the coyotes, a second bobcat traipsed through too. This one also ignored the tree and sniffed around for the dweller under that flat rock.
Silvery bob also checking out the burrow
Sneaking up on the camera
"Oh - it's just one of those"
Looks like the native dogs and cats are innocent. Who's next?
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References:
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Lynx rufus
- Wikipedia - Bobcat
- Nature of a Man (this blog) - Who Chews?
- Nature of a Man (this blog) - posts on cam trapping the Mono Basin
beautiful catches. :)
ReplyDeleteThe up the rock shot is great. Spidey-cat.
ReplyDeleteMan...I'm speechless. Beautiful shots of a wildcat once again!!!
ReplyDeleteI love those desert-hued cats! They don't even seem to have any "rufous" coloration on their hind legs. No ear tufts or "beards" either. So different from our Bay Area cats!
ReplyDeleteJohn, through blogs I've noticed a visible difference between bobcats from various areas, too. I wonder if there are regional subspecies like with black-tailed deer.
ReplyDeleteKatie, John - you guys have given me something to research. As you mentioned Katie, bobcats have a range to them in size, color, pattern, cheek fur, etc. And, it varies some by region and habitat and age, and can change a bit through the season in areas with weather extremes, such as the Mono Basin.
ReplyDeleteBut... there are a dozen subspecies of Lynx rufus in North America, and one that does range down into California via the Great Basin is the Pallid Bobcat, Lynx rufus pallescens. Making me wonder if these cats are intergrades, or in some cases, such as that last quite silvery character, full pallescens subspecies. Hmmmm...
I swear the last time I looked this up, I could not find any mention of subspecies. Everything online is dynamic. Here's my just-now revised list o' links of what I was starting to notice through blogs back in March: http://othernatureid.blogspot.com/2010/09/list-o-links-of-bobcats.html I have yet to see a bobcat in-person. And, when I do, I hope to get a photo of it!
ReplyDelete