Bobcat (Bernalillo: camping, cabin, moving)

[bodiddley]

If that cat is not someones pet, be very careful. He is not right in the mind to let anyone get that close to him. He may be rabid.

[Fischer_girl]

Wow! I just looked at another forum who mentioned the Cougar caught on Eldorado yesterday. They actually opted to euthanize the animal because it portrayed similar characteristics I just talked about with the photos of our cats. Here is the link.... State officials opt to euthanize cougar - SantaFeNewMexican.com

It was also questioned why the animal wasn't sent to a zoo... here was my answer:
"Although the article did not make mention of why she was not given to a zoo... I might be able to venture a guess. There is so very very much legality behind this sort of thing. First... where are we going to keep this animal while we are arranging for the transport to the facility? Also, there must be a permit to hold the animal, another permit to transport the animal, yet another permit for the zoo facility to get the animal. These permits can't always be aquired overnight, either. Furthermore, they would have to locate a zoo that WANTS to animal in the first place. And.. if the animal is transported over state lines...that is more than likely another permit right there. Finally.. once a zoo is located.. is there space available for the animal..or does it need to be built? It's not necessarily a simple issue to solve. Everyone must qualify for all these permits before the ball can officially get rolling!
My facility deals with these situations quite often..and most times there is nothing one can do but hurry up and wait..and sometimes waiting in not an option..for personnel or the animal."

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by Fischer_girl

Someone was mentioning earlier that it might be easy to think that these guys are the size of house cats because you never see anything next to them in the photo that can be comared to their size. Well..here is a pic of me with two of the four cats I work with.

Anyway. Enjoy.

That was me. I have seen Bobcats in the wild. We had a lot in Florida. They use to scare me when I did see them. You see them in the zoo and it is one thing. But when you catch a glimpse of them, they are fast....

Wow, good shots! Again, that last shot could be misleading as to there size.

Thanks for sharing.


Rich

[Fischer_girl]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

I have seen Bobcats in the wild. We had a lot in Florida.
Wow, good shots! Again, that last shot could be misleading as to there size.

Thanks for sharing.


Rich

Rich-
You're right...the last photo is misleading because I cropped the crap out of it because there was senseless stuff in the background and I wanted to just capature the cats beauity. The photo of the two cats playing was not cropped and was NOT zoomed in. There were standing on a playform about waist high when I took the shot.

I came to NM from FL... and LOVED...absolutely adored the panther conservation efforts. Infact..I wear my "Save the Panthers" bracelette as we speak. ( also see www.floridapanter.org)

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by Fischer_girl

Rich-
You're right...the last photo is misleading because I cropped

I came to NM from FL... and LOVED...absolutely adored the panther conservation efforts. Infact..I wear my "Save the Panthers" bracelette as we speak.

I grew up in Florida, spent a few years on a missile site in the Everglades... We would come out to White Sands to train.

So from FL to NM, quite a shock?


Rich

[lisdol]

Thanks for the perspective photos Fischer girl.

My Maine coon mix is about 13-14 lbs and very furry, so I guess that is why I had that impression. People see him and say "wow, that cat is huge". I guess most domestic housecats are about, what, 8 lbs?

Those Bobcats are gorgeous - and look quite strong.

[catman]

Fischer_girl: Beautiful animals. How tame are they? They are so gorgeous!

[Fischer_girl]

Originally Posted by catman

Fischer_girl: Beautiful animals. How tame are they? They are so gorgeous!

I don't consider these cats tame. That's why I say they are "imprinted". Yes..they are friendly; that's because they associated myself and other staff with having food. However, not at any single moment do we let our guard down. All wild animals... and I believe domestic animals as well.. can be completely unpredictable, and assuming they will never attack or lash out would be naive. These guys do like to hop up on your back when you bend over...which is never safe...thus we avoid bending over around them as an attempt to deter the behavior.
We do have a younger cat who is far more unpredictable and is housed on her own because she is a bully to the others when it comes to food. They are certainly a far cry from pets... they'll never be that, nor do we encourage that behavior either. They are strictly here to live out their lives as best we can provide..and serve as education elements in wildlife.

[catman]

Thanks for the info. No, I knew they weren't domesticated! But at least they are friendly. I almost expected you to say you never turn your back on them. I wonder why they like to hop up on your back. Do you think they try to assert dominance that way?

Was that a confrontation in the second photo? It looks like one. I liked the photos so much that I saved them.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by catman

Thanks for the info. No, I knew they weren't domesticated! But at least they are friendly. I almost expected you to say you never turn your back on them. I wonder why they like to hop up on your back. Do you think they try to assert dominance that way?

Was that a confrontation in the second photo? It looks like one. I liked the photos so much that I saved them.

Probably! I wouldn't want to feel those claws in my back when they hopped up, either.

I don't trust wild animals in general! I've known people who have same for pets--armadillo, skunk, coon, deer...and even one javelina! While they may seem cute and cuddly, they're wild, and I was always a little leery around such, especially the javelina!