We finally* saw a Bobcat in our yard, after having not seen one since April! In comparison, during the same time period in 2022 we saw a Bobcat 11 times, and in the same time period in 2021 we saw a Bobcat 3 times—including twice when we saw an adult Bobcat with two Bobkittens! Yes, Bobkittens are as cute as you’d imagine! 😍
We initially saw the most recent Bobcat at 7:00 a.m. as it was lounging on the short brick wall lining our front walkway, very close to our front window.
Here’s a photo I took of the same Bobcat a few minutes later, after it sauntered into our front yard. I love the intense look of concentration on its face and the forward motion of its body—something has obviously caught its attention!
Every time I see a Bobcat I feel deeply honored—they’re such beautiful animals. I mean, look at the amazing patterns and colors of all the spots and stripes, and dashes and dots, on its fur! 🥰 WOW!
* Hubby and I believe that although it’s been 5 months since we’ve seen a Bobcat in our yard, one or more Bobcats have probably been active in our yard since April, but because of our record heat caused by climate change, the Bobcat(s) have restricted their activities to nighttime, when we wouldn’t see them.
More Charismatic Macrofauna
Another charismatic macrofauna species we see in our yard more frequently than Bobcats is Coyotes, which we see anywhere from 1-6 times (or more)/month. Hubby & I recently saw one napping in the shade of our house, right next to my studio window.
Perhaps not coincidentally, we saw a Coyote napping in the exact same spot almost exactly a year ago. We suspect it may be the same Coyote. In any case, it’s most welcome to rest in the shade of our house! It’s also most welcome to catch as many rebel scum in our yard as it can!
Yard Drama!
One of the challenges I face creating this blog is that, having lived in the Sonoran Desert for over 20 years, I almost always have more art, more photos and more stories that I could share for any given subject matter—but in the interest of respecting your time as well as my own, I try to keep each post to an easily digestible length. 🙂 That said, here’s a unique story that I want to share, as it’s very apropos to this post!
In May 2022, Hubby & I got to watch an exciting drama unfold in our yard: a standoff between a Bobcat and 2 Coyotes! It appeared that the Coyotes were stalking the Bobcat—but the Bobcat wasn’t going to be an easy meal for them! As the 3 animals jockeyed for position in our yard, the Bobcat faced the 2 Coyotes straight-on and puffed up its fur to make itself look larger. Then it hopped up on a short 2.5' wall next to our heat pump, from where it could jump onto our roof for safety, if needed (Bobcats can jump 6’ or more, vertically). The Bobcat stood its ground and did not back down to the Coyotes!
Finally the Coyotes gave up and trotted on their way, probably looking for easier prey like rabbits and rebel scum, and left the Bobcat in peace. The Bobcat hung out in our yard for 2 more hours—napping, stretching, and finally going on its way.
I’ll end today’s post with a quote I feel is very relevant to the spirit of my blog:
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."
- Marcel Proust