[CraigCreek]

There's a very realistic, life-size resin model of a full-grown mountain lion in the Mt. Magazine State Park Visitors' Center's excellent natural history exhibit. MM was once part of mountain lions' natural range (not sure if the big cats are back there or not - but black bears are certainly calling MM home once more).

Perhaps a trip to MM for comparison purposes might be in order.

It's hard to make out many details from your picture - but could this animal be a young mountain lion, hence smaller and less muscular than a full-grown critter, and more bobcat-sized?

[TerraDown]

OP, I lightened the original picture for you. If you look closely, you can see the spots and stumpy tail. It's a bobcat, imho.

[stan4]

Originally Posted by Hollynla

What makes you think this?

I've seen many bobcats around here, they aren't much bigger than a housecat and they tend to be dark shaded with spots. The faces are furry, but more house cat looking. I just don't see bobcat when I look at the picture. The body also looks fairly long to me. The face, the broad jawline, the shape of the head and body, the color, and the size also tells me cougar rather than bobcat.

Are most of you saying bobcat because the tail isn't obvious?

The size relative to a blade of grass is too small for an adult mountain lion.

We have neighborhood bobcats in the city and suburbs of Dallas. One naps on my neighbor's lawn furniture. They can get quite a big bigger than the housecats.

[Hollynla]

Originally Posted by TerraDown

OP, I lightened the original picture for you. If you look closely, you can see the spots and stumpy tail. It's a bobcat, imho.

The tail, or lack thereof is what made me question it the most. I still don't see any spots, just normal shading from the night camera.

[Hollynla]

Originally Posted by CraigCreek

There's a very realistic, life-size resin model of a full-grown mountain lion in the Mt. Magazine State Park Visitors' Center's excellent natural history exhibit. MM was once part of mountain lions' natural range (not sure if the big cats are back there or not - but black bears are certainly calling MM home once more).

Perhaps a trip to MM for comparison purposes might be in order.

It's hard to make out many details from your picture - but could this animal be a young mountain lion, hence smaller and less muscular than a full-grown critter, and more bobcat-sized?

I have been wanting to go visit that area. We know for sure that we have mountain lions in the area. In 2012, the popular video off of a game camera was in Fallsville which isn't far from us. That's when the Fish & Game finally had to admit they were here. I know many who have seen them, some have pics. Vet told me there were two small dogs killed by one last year right across the mountain from my property. We know they're here, that's not even a question.

[Hollynla]

Originally Posted by stan4

The size relative to a blade of grass is too small for an adult mountain lion.

We have neighborhood bobcats in the city and suburbs of Dallas. One naps on my neighbor's lawn furniture. They can get quite a big bigger than the housecats.

Yeah, if it were a ML, it's not full grown. I remember late last year, a person who owns neighboring property said one was seen on the dirt road leading to us, but it was very young. Who knows.

I think there's not way to know for certain, the picture quality is too bad.

[teakboat]

Originally Posted by Hollynla

What makes you think this?

I've seen many bobcats around here, they aren't much bigger than a housecat and they tend to be dark shaded with spots. The faces are furry, but more house cat looking. I just don't see bobcat when I look at the picture. The body also looks fairly long to me. The face, the broad jawline, the shape of the head and body, the color, and the size also tells me cougar rather than bobcat.

Are most of you saying bobcat because the tail isn't obvious?

Yeah, I'm still thinking it's a large bobcat. The profile seems to have the jacked up hindquarters that some bobcats seem to have. But it is not clear to me either of course. Still a real neat photo to catch.

FWIW here's one with the longish back legs and high hips


Mountain lions are around, I saw an adult crossing a dirt road in front of me about 3 years ago in Oklahoma. Very exciting thing to see for sure

Maybe you could place a yardstick right in that location and take another photo from exactly where that camera is? May be able to make a better guess then.

[CraigCreek]

Originally Posted by Hollynla

I have been wanting to go visit that area. We know for sure that we have mountain lions in the area. In 2012, the popular video off of a game camera was in Fallsville which isn't far from us. That's when the Fish & Game finally had to admit they were here. I know many who have seen them, some have pics. Vet told me there were two small dogs killed by one last year right across the mountain from my property. We know they're here, that's not even a question.

It was still wintry atop Mount Magazine last week - but beautiful. I was last there on July 4, 1970, and was impressed by the state park's thoughtful additions, though the present luxury-resort-like-accommodations are a huge contrast to the original historic and rustic lodge, which burned (arson) in February, 1971. Still, it was great to be able to drive around the flattish mountaintop, and there are spectacular views of the valley 2,000+ feet below.

Good pizza at the restaurant, too!

[NDak15]

Bobcat. You can barely make out the bobbed tail.

[Hulsker 1856]

Not sure if that's a mountain lion.

But this is.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O16kGZ-Gm74