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Friday, August 2, 2019

Nature and Feline Friday - Wild Cats in the Wild

A few weeks ago, a mountain lion started a walk well to the west of us. A trail cam recorded video as he walked past it.
I've spent many years figuring out parts of the favorite route of male lions as they pass through our area. I still have more to figure out - there are some big gaps in the route where I haven't figured out the scent posts. But, I do know parts of it well.

About a mile after the first footage, the lion passed another cam at a scent post.

Then, after another mile, covered in about 23 minutes, he passed my favorite scent post under a Ponderosa Pine tree on the saddle of a ridge.

Covering a mile in 23 minutes is a decent pace. Along the route that the lion would have taken to get from one scent post to the next one, our dogs found a freshly killed fawn that morning. At first, I assumed that the lion had killed it. However, after looking at the time that the lion spent traveling from one scent post to the next, I don't think that he had enough time to have done it.

After the dogs found the carcass, I placed a cam by it to see what animal came to eat it. It was a bobcat. And, the bobcat covered the carcass with dirt to save it for later, I began to wonder if the bobcat could have been the one who killed the fawn. I have trouble imagining the bobcat fighting off the fawn's mother... but perhaps he did.

Here's the bobcat hiding the small carcass.


With that side tale told, I'll go back to our lion who continued on his route to the east even as the sun rose and lit up the landscape. I love this bird's eye view - it feels as if I could be sitting on the hillside watching the lion through binoculars.

My last view of him that day was well to the east of here. First he marked the spot....

... and then he walked away.

I have a video that I compiled from all of the clips. I hope that you have time to check it out!

Thanks to our friends at Comedy Plus for hosting the Feline Friday Blog Hop and to the LLB Gang for hosting the Nature Friday Blog Hop.

13 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    I so look forward to your video clips KB... always a joy! YAM xx

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  2. Wonderful, wonderful footage of the mountain lion prowling around in the forest.
    Many thanks!
    Gail.

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  3. He is a travelin man and a handsome one to... my walking pace is a 20 minute mile, it used to be 17 minutes. I am slowing down. but this cat was wandering and if he put it in gear could run me down

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  4. KB oh my word above. Of course in my mind's eye I know how alike wild felines and house cats are but to witness all the traits in the video. Often Madi's inner tiger emerged. She had what we called the night crazies as a kitten and young adult...mellowed at about 9 or 10 years. But so much like a wild cat on the prowl at night. She'd be sitting under the ceiling fan...all of a sudden she became possessed looked at the fan like it was prey took off like a rocket running and pouncing all over 2 levels.

    Thank you for sharing your wonderful nature with us
    Cecilia

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  5. Both cats look to be very healthy. Of course if the bobcat killed the fawn he definitely is eating well.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  6. It's so fascinating viewing the footage from your trail cams. Thanks ever so for sharing them with us!

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  7. Oh my goodness. What a great post. Now this is Feline with a capital F. Wow.

    Thank you for joining the Feline Friday Blog Hop.

    Have a purrfect Feline Friday and weekend. ♥

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  8. We always love watching your videos, KB. Thank you!

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  9. Such an amazing video of the two cats. It really is amazing to peek into their lives.

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  10. Did you see the story about a woman in BC who blasted Metallica at a the cougar she ran across on a walk with her dog?

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  11. We think you have your cameras very well placed! Love seeing the animals going about their business.

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