Playing Chicken
Male Bobcat protecting its kill
I got a call from a neighbor a few weeks ago. She said that she was concerned about a large Bobcat that was hanging out by her back wall. Upon investigation I discovered that indeed there was a very large male Bobcat that had taken down a small doe just outside her property. I assured her that the Bobcat was no threat to her as long as it was left alone and that it would probably stay at its kill for several days to protect and feed on its prey. A day or two later I took my camera with telephoto lens to see if I could get a picture. I took a picture of the cat lying next to the kill. Then I decided to approach to see if I could get a closer shot.
I crept toward the cat about ten feet keeping the Bobcat in my viewfinder. I suddenly noticed that the cat was also creeping forward. I stopped, so did my target. I took a picture thinking that the sound of the camera wound scare off the Bobcat. It didn’t! Surely the cat would turn and run if I got closer! I took several steps forward…so did the Bobcat!
So you want to play chicken
A growl…my pulse speeds up…I take a picture, a step (my last) and then I stand up straight. Ha… I won! The Bobcat turned to the side and disappeared into the brush. Had he taken just one more step, I definitely would have given way. Two nights later he showed up outside my sliding glass door to have his picture taken.
So you want to play again?
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