Rare sighting of bobcats in southwest Austin caught on camera

Prowling through the trees in southwest Austin, two bobcats were seen by an Austin cyclist, who snapped a rare picture after a run-in with the cats.

The spotted bobcats were seen just off the southern section of the Violet Crown Trail, near the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Sunday morning by long-time Austinite Maxwell Johnston. He was cycling down the trail when he saw what he thought was a house cat. He took a photo of one bobcat, feeling unthreatened, but just before he could snap a photo of the other one, it scurried away.

Bobcats are native to North America and are one of the most common wildcats in the region. While they reside throughout Texas and prefer habitats much like the Hill Country, bobcats are not often spotted in the wild in the Austin area, let alone captured on camera.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the rarity of sightings likely comes from the species' reclusiveness and largely nocturnal habits.

Johnston said that it was his first sighting of a big cat, but hopes to have the experience again.

"I've never seen any wild bobcats before, and I've lived here for 25 years," Johnston said. "(It was a) very cool experience and I would love to come across one again."

Even though they are not often seen by humans, Texas Parks and Wildlife state mammologist Jonah Evans said that bobcats are becoming more comfortable with people in state and national parks.

"There are parks where they've become pretty used to people and people can go see him fairly regularly," Evans said. "Obviously that's not ideal. We like animals to maintain their fear of humans, but there are places where you can see bobcats fairly regularly."

Evans has had some bobcat sightings himself and, like Johnston, has never felt endangered by their presence.

"I've seen maybe a handful of bobcats in the wild and I've always been excited when I did," Evans said. "(I) never had even a second of thought of like, 'Oh no, I might be in danger' or something like that. They just aren't really a threat to people."

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