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Native Californian, biologist, wildlife conservation consultant, retired Smithsonian scientist, father of two daughters, grandfather of four. INTJ. Believes nature is infinitely more interesting than shopping malls. Born 100 years too late.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Bobcat catches snake


Just back from checking the cameras in Marin County, and was pleased to get some images that showed more than bobcats walking away from the camera.  

I'm getting a little tired of bobcat butt shots. 

This photo was taken on July 2 during the heat of day -- 2:34 PM -- when snakes are up and about.  

Unfortunately, the shutter speed was 1/30th of a second, so the gopher snake and the cat's head are slightly blurred. 

The snake looks limp, which means it is dead, and the cat is no doubt looking for a place to settle down and feed.   

This is the same trail where the bobcat was seen carrying the dead brush rabbit. 

It cuts through coastal scrub and mixed conifer/oak woodland -- so it is good edge habitat, and bobcats frequently pass through. 

10 comments:

Owlman said...

Wow what a great photo even if it is slightly blurred. It doesn't get any better than that Codger.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful shot. Your hard work placing cameras has paid off for you and all of us who enjoy your pictures and comments.
And Fred photos; fun to watch him grow. Cynthia

PBurns said...

Jeez that is good. Very, very good. Hat's off!

- clark - said...

What a chance to get that photo. I wonder how often a bobcat will prey on snakes? Either way, it is a very cool picture and hard to get one like that. Send me some of your photo luck! All I get are deer.

Camera Trap Codger said...

Thanks troops. That trail just seems to be a good place for bobcats. It's on their regular beat-- so stay tuned for the bob kittens.

Sean said...

What a catch! Nice work Chris, wonder why the Pix Board missed the shot?

Camera Trap Codger said...

There were two cameras on the tree (and I'll go into this in the next post about the "bob-kittens"), but the cam with the Pixcontroller board was at a larger angle from the trail. The cam with the SSS board is aimed right up the trail in a lower position.

Camera Trap Codger said...

Correction--the Pixcontroller cam was the one that took this picture. The other cam (with an SSS board) took two pictures at the same time, but the sensor must have detected the cat a bit later than the Pix board. I think the difference was due to the position of the cams and the angle of their sensors.

Anonymous said...

Oh, that's great.

DDeden said...

Blurred? It looks great to me. I guess I need to get my eyes checked. I saw a bobcat here in Eureka near the harbor years ago, thought it was a Manx but since I never saw it again there, I think it must have been a young bobcat, sure loped quick. Always seeing coon, skunk, possum around but no bear or cougars in town, just up in the hills.