"CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE"

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Female & Kitten (3 Photos)

The definition of "cat got your tongue" is to be rendered speechless. Add to that dumbfounded, spellbound & to use the British slang "gobsmacked". It was more like "Out of Africa" than "Out of Alberta".

Bobcats have been on my "Animals I Would Like an Opportunity to Photograph" bucket list forever. To have an opportunity to catch one with the camera in the wild was totally amazing. To catch a mother with kittens - well we just won't go there. 

Momma bobcat had two kittens but I only saw one, the naughty one! Thanks to that little kittie, who kept teasing its mother, running up to her and then darting away to explore,  offered a number of opportunities to catch both in some extraordinary poses. 

I shoot with a 150mm - 600mm lens which allows for some great close-ups without impacting the subject's space. That being said, the only time Momma seemed concerned was when a couple approached with a dog on the walking path. Before they could get too close, I did stop them and explained what was ahead. They completely understood and decided to take another route. There had been a few people around when the cat family was first seen but as the mother did not appear to be concerned in the least with humans at a safe distance, I assume she was used to seeing people due to the proximity of the park area to residential housing.

Eventually mother and kitten exited at which point she must have caught up with the second kitten and headed for the thick woods.

These two will appear again in future blogs. How could they not! I have to admit I am primarily a dog lover but these felines won my heart with their characters and stunning beauty. I wish I was so photogenic!

PHOTO #1 - OUT ON A LIMB

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female) & Juvenile"TREETOP TWOSOME"

PHOTO #2 - BOBBY SOCKS 

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Juvenile"TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL"

PHOTO #3 - THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) - Adult (Female)"THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT"