itchy and scratchy....

Bobcat digiscoped through Leica Televid spotting scope 02/17/07

I had the great opportunity to digiscope a wild Bobcat recently. I know what you're thinking, I must have been in some incredibly wild, far-flung location, but the reality is I was home. This cat sat just to the left of my bird bath mid-day! Sure, I would have preferred less harsh, early AM lighting but what the hey....

Upon seeing him I raced to my office to grab my scope, tripod, and camera and dashed back to the side door. I got the whole set-up assembled inside the house. Eyeing the beast cautiously as I extended each leg of the tripod and then mounted the camera to the adapter and the adapter to the scope.

I cracked the door ever so slowly and carefully, but didn't notice my black lab eagerly waiting to go out behind me. When the door was open enough the lab bounded out and went about his business, naturally assuming I was opening the door for him. The cat remained and looked over to the silly dog who NEVER noticed the still cat! Given this turn of events, I assumed it was likely OK for me to go out as well. I first got the dog back in the house and finally began shooting (potential crisis averted).

At first the bobcat stared me down but within moments it proceeded scratching itself like mad! Given the lack of fur on either side of the neck and scabs on the forehead I think it's safe to assume this critter had more than a mild case of fleas bugging it! I don't know if it had gotten into some poison ivy or similar, or if there is a cat equivalent to mange. Either way it definitely was not the prettiest Bobcat I'd ever seen, and it was clearly sidetracked by its itchiness as it stayed scratching for ~3 more minutes before finally slinking back into the bushes. Any Vets/wildlife biologists out there familiar with such things that could provide some insight?!?...

very itchy and not so attractive Bobcat!