Cat Fight

Recently, I’ve seen one bobcat hunting in a specific field in the hour before sunset. Each time I’ve been there, the pattern has been the same: It’s cautiously come out from the bushes, found a spot partially hidden by long grass, and surveyed the area. When it’s decided there are no obvious things to be wary of, it’s come out into the open to hunt.

Only in these periods of exposed movement have I been able to spot it and watch what happens. In general, I’ve been trying to be patient, hang back, and hope to see something worth pressing the shutter for, not just because this is an excellent technique to observe behavior but because it’s ethical. I’ve been able to get close to bobcats before without interfering with their movements or causing stress, but those situations have been rare.

Last week, I saw the bobcat in question and stayed very low to the ground, watching from the limit of my 500mm lens, demonstrating all the patience I could muster, only to have a car roll by and see it run for cover. I left without any shots, so returning this weekend was even harder to stay back, but I’m so glad I did.

Both bobcats leaped into the air, claws out, and momentarily seemed to hang in a ball of fury. Hitting the ground, one fell back, and the other pounced on it. Again, they fought, and again, it was intense, but it was over almost as soon as it began. Another almost intimate moment followed before they retreated to the bushes in different directions. And I finally breathed again.

At that point, I still believed the situation was a mating encounter but either unwanted by the female or just one where their combined energy overheated. It was only looking at the photos much later on the computer that I could see signs that the bobcats were both males. Maybe it was a territorial dispute, but given that we’re in the middle of their mating season, I guess that at least one of them was on the move in search of females.

The cat I was expecting came out from cover and started the usual behavior of surveying the scene and moving into the open. When he moved out of sight I came round the side of the hill I was on for a new angle and all of a sudden saw a second cat laying in the grass a few feet from it. The two bobcats were clearly aware of each other but looking in different directions. This was a surprise to me because I’d never even see two bobcats in one frame before.

After a minute, they turned nose-to-nose. My guess was that I’d stumbled on a mating encounter and, maybe influence by that reading of the situation, I thought their movements and interaction seemed kind of tender and affectionate. I knew I was too far away for any truly great images but I didn’t dare get closer in case I scared them away. After a few minutes they both started walking away, but stayed on parallel lines. I thought the whole situation was coming to an end when out of nowhere they just erupted into violence.

Both bobcats leapt into the air, claws out, and momentarily seemed to hang there in a ball of fury. Hitting the ground, one fell back and the other pounced on it. Again they fought, and again it was intense, but it was over almost as soon as it began. What followed was another almost intimate moment before they both retreated to the bushes in different directions. And I finally breathed again.

At that point, I still believed the situation was a mating encounter but one that was either unwanted by the female or just one where their combined energy overheated. It was only looking at the photos much later on the computer I could see signs that the bobcats were both males. Maybe it was a territorial dispute, but given that we’re in the middle of their mating season my guess is that at least one of them were on the move in search of females.