Saturday, April 4, 2009

Florida Bobcat Sighting

This week my vegetable growing class took a field trip to Green Cay Farm in Boynton Beach. I had been interested in this farm as they are the closest place with a CSA (community supported agriculture). It was very interesting to visit - like many farms in Florida they use sugar cane as wind breaks. The vegetables are grown in sand blocks which are covered with reflective plastic mulch. The plastic keeps the weeds down, soil evenly moist, and some bugs away.

I got there early and it was very quiet and peaceful. I saw what looked like a cat. Upon closer inspection it was no ordinary cat - it was a bobcat. There were actually two of them.

They come out of Green Cay Wetlands, nearby, and eat the rabbits. That is good since the rabbits eat the vegetables.

This is the first bobcat I've ever seen. Florida is not all developed yet...

24 comments:

Sarah said...

Wow - I can't believe you saw that! Good pictures.

JudyBop said...

That's amazing - was it scary? You got a good picture.

Anonymous said...

I was driving on Lakeshore Dr in Clermont 10/14/09 and a large cat ran across the street in front of me. I immediately said to my son, sitting next to me, that was not a "normal" cat. So, upon research today on the internet, I believe what I saw was a bobcat. It ran from the Lake towards the home side.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, it was 10/13/09, Tuesday early evening.

Susan said...

That's just what I thought when I saw them.

Fran said...

Your photo looks just like the bobcat my son saw this past Weds. (10/14/09) at about 7pm. He was sitting in our driveway - about 20 feet from the dining room window! He got a pretty good photo, as well. We live in DeLand (central FL).

Anonymous said...

Susan, I encountered a Bobcat while jogging in Tuscawilla, a residential area in Winter Springs, Florida. I've written an article about it to share my good fortune and it will be included in our neighborhood's promotional magazine entitled "Tuscawilla Today". They have asked for a photo of a cat and I would love to include your second Bobcat picture, with your permission. I don't know how else to contact you. A post here would be great. Thanks! SMK Winter Springs, FL

Susan said...

SMK,

You have my permission to use the photo. Hope everyone enjoys your article.

Unknown said...

I was walking 2/16/11 around 7:15 am and a bobcat crossed the road in front of me about 50 feet a head of me. I new it wasn't a normal house cat. It was brownish in color,quite large, and had a white tip on the end of its short tail. I had to walk past the area to continue on my walking route. To say the least, I was a bit nervous to go through that area. It is where the power lines run through this area in Bonita Springs, Florida. The land there is overgrown and has plentiful wildlife.

Mary said...

I walking around 7:15 am on 2/16/11 and a bobcat crossed the road about 50feet ahead of me. It is a rural area where power lines run through our Bonita Springs, Florida neighborhood. He was brownish in color, quite large, and had a short tail with a white tip on the end. I had to walk past the area and I was nervous that he was going to come out again. I wasn't sure if they would attack humans?

Dymonsnrust said...

Florida is not all developed "Yet"?
Let's hope it never becomes ALL developed!

Anonymous said...

Saw a bobcat this morning, Tuesday, April 26, 2011, at the far edge of our backyard which backs up to the edge of the Audobon Preserve near Wekiva Springs State Park in Longwood, FL.

Dan said...

Rockledge, Florida just built a new skate, soccer and nature trail park off of Murrell Rd and Guss Hipp Blvd. Just saw an adult bobcat standing in the middle of the bike trail and staring me down. No camera phone just an IPOD so I turned and retreated. Looked back and he did the same. Not your ordinary Kitteh!

Anonymous said...

Had a large - but thin - bobcat cross yard last night about dusk. Live in Ranchlands area of Winter Springs. Had huge rabbit population- 10 or more romping in yard daily until couple of weeks ago. Think I now know what happened to them!

Anonymous said...

I saw, what looks to be, this very bobcat in my yard Friday, Jan 6, in West Lake Worth, about 8 am, 2012. We live in Fl Gardens, opposite Nassau Shopping Square.

He was raising quite a fuss, caterwauling, digging holes; I think he found the possum tunnel.
My cats came out, me too, and he was not afraid of any of us. I had to get the broom and chase him. He was baring his teeth, lunging at us in the screened in.

Your pictures are great-- thanks.
I didn't realize it was a bobcat, until he turned & ran. No tail gave him away.

Anonymous said...

I saw one this morning on Merritt Island, Fl. Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

3/24/12- 9am Bobcat crossed Loyola off 776 in South Venice. Highly residential area near a vacant lot-What out for your kitty cats!

Lawrence Berry said...

Have a photo of one at my apartment community yesterday in Orlando. Spotted near the corner of Avalon Park and Colonial Blvd.

Lawrence Berry said...

Spotted one and have a photo of it in Orlando near the corner of Avalon Park Blvd and Colonial.

Anonymous said...

I live in Hallandale Beach, FL and decided to jog around the track at Hallandale High School. I had never jogged at the school before. It was a around 8:30pm when I heard a loud "meow". I looked out towards the opening of the track and field where the sound came from and saw what appeared to be a dog? It was dark out but the mid-sized animal stood in the light of the school. I was terrified to say the least, not knowing what it was. I slowly left the area and got a really good look of it circling the high school. I came home to research and found that what I had encountered BOBCAT!

Anonymous said...

saw a bobcat in Jensen beach yesterday

Anonymous said...

saw a bobcat in Englewood back yard along Forked Creek 11-17-12

Anonymous said...

08/11/2013

Second day in a row Bobcat in our backyard that has a pond and backs up to Dept of Conservation protected wildlife area. It was largish...size of a small German Shepherd.

Oakleaf Hammock Ellenton FL

Unknown said...

Just saw a healthy looking bobcat come into our yard in Bonita Springs! Nice fur and a good weight. Wow what a site. I am sure it was one. I am a retired biology teacher from Michigan where I used to spot them in the U.P. Beautiful tufted ears, bobbed tail, about twice as tall as a house cat. I am amazed that I would see one in such a populated area. We are on the north side of Tropical Dr.