Have you seen a Bobcat at River Legacy Parks lately? Please tell us about it and where you saw it. We love to keep track of our family of Bobcats who enjoy the natural environment of River Legacy Parks as much as you do.

You also might want to check out the Bobcat video link on our Home Page.

Comments

[Fay]

I saw one today on the trail. It was near the end of the trail by the Collins Street entrance.

[Chuck Barron]

on may 24 I was riding my bike through the park and streight ahead a female (I think she was small)
was strolling right down the middle of the trail. As I passed she gave me a slight glance and strolled on by. I had my camera phone so I turned around and caught up to her pulled up right next to her and took a picture. She gave a a glance as though to say are you done? and continued her stroll. This is the 6th time I have seen a bobcat only once have I seen a male. ( He was at least 5 lbs heaver than the female) They dont seem to mind us at all and they are totaly non agressive. I was amazed by is how beautful they are and as a cat lover ( I have 2 ) I look forward to seeing one or both of them each time I go to the park. On a side note I have only lived in Arlington 3 months so all of this is new to me, I lived in Paris, Tx for over 27 years.

[Kristi]

Chuck, if you would like to post your bobcat photos with your comment, you can e-mail the pictures to me at reply@riverlegacy.org and I would be happy to upload your photo to the site. It is a beautiful thing to see the bobcats upclose and I consider it a privilege to see them when I am in the park. Thanks for sharing your sightings with us.

[jdbigd95]

On Sunday 6/15 around 2:45 pm, my wife and I saw a small bobcat walking across a bridge on the hike and bike trail in the area close to the park entrance off North Collins. We walked right past the bobcat and it seemed uninterested in us. The bobcat walked to the end of the bridge and then stepped into the brush and on it's way.

[Tim]

I saw a bobcat walking on the trail on June 19th about 5:30 p.m. It was on the west side of the Collins/Hwy.157 bridge. I saw two other people carrying their dogs in their arms for fear of what the wild animal might do to them. I've read about bobcats with rabies attacking people unexpectedly, so it was unsettling to walk by it.

[W Riddle]

I saw a huge bobcat last year, was around 7/07, about 8:00 am run across Green Oaks by the elementary school at Burny Rd. I thought it was a rottweiler until I saw it leap and hold onto someone's wooden fence and pull itself into their backyard! I was on my way to take my dog for surgery and was running late or I would've at least told the people they may have a bobcat in the backyard. I'm sure he didn't stay, probably just passed through. But how scary would that be to see this bobcat run through your backyard! I had never seen one and he was beautiful and so big and strong. Watching him pull himself over the tall fence was a site! I can walk to River Legacy from my apt and see raccoons and possum around here all the time, but that was the only time I've ever seen a bobcat. I would love to see another one. I thought it was strange he was so far from the park. Maybe he was lost?

[Ellen]

Tim,
Thanks for your comment, your concerns are appreciated. I hope this can help ease your thoughts on the matter. Bobcats are not a common rabies carrier and bobcat attacks on humans are extremely rare. The bobcats in River Legacy are acclimated to human presence, so we are occasionally able to see them along the trails - which is actually pretty cool. They are also not a direct threat to leashed dogs or large dogs. As with any wild animal, it is always a good idea to remain cautious, but as long as the bobcats do not feel threatened, they are not a danger. These are small animals who are more frightened by humans than we should be by them. In addition, the feline population in River Legacy is closely monitored. Consider yourself lucky to have seen one!

[Delbert Olson]

On Tuesday 6-24-08 I was riding my bike on the east trail around 7 pm. I had just passed under Collins headed east when an approaching cyclist announced she had just passed a bobcat. I slowed down and came around a bend in the trail. Down the trail I could see a bobcat walking in my direction. I stopped and got out my camera. The bobcat was too far away for a decent photo so I just stood there and watched. As he approached I could see he had a very large rat hanging from his mouth. To my surprise he continued to walk towards me and passed within two or three feet. I took pictures as he approached and after he had passed.

[Kristi]

To view Delbert's cool pictures of the Bobcat with its dinner in its mouth, check out the Bobcat Photos category on the main Bobcat Blog page.

[Joe]

I saw a bobcat on the trail around the 3 mile marker on July 1, 2008, at about 6:00 PM. He was heading east when I first saw him, but soon left the trail and headed towards the large ponds. I had passed him on my bike, stopped about 30 feet in front of him, and snapped a photo with my cellphone as he strolled by. I figured this gave him plenty of room and time to avoid me if he so desired. Very cool!

[matt]

There is a real bobcat family. The one that walks along the east trail just past collins towards the parking area has about 9 kittens. I watched all of them cross the trail right in front of me Saturday morning around 7AM. She hunts east of collins and has a den just west of the collins bridge. There are going to be 10 big kitties in that park and they don't seem to mind humans at all.

[Barbara Thomas]

This morning, September 23, 2008 about 9 a.m., I witnessed an adult bobcat attempt to catch a squirrel. My apartment complex, Saint Andrews, backs up to the Trinity east of Collins. Adjacent to the complex is a driving range that also has the Trinity along one side. I was watching the squirrels near the tree line on the northern most edge of the driving range, when suddenly the bobcat came out of cover trying to catch a squirrel. The squirrel ran up a tree and the bobcat froze. After a minute or two the squirrel ran back down the tree and the bobcat again took pursuit with the squirrel getting away. The bobcat stopped the chase and looked around for awhile and then slowly sauntered off disappearing into the tall grasses.

[DS]

i have seen a bobcat on 2 occasions both times between mile markers 4 and 5 and each time i was within just a few feet of the cat, they are beautiful. the first time i was able to take a pic with my camera phone. the second time i saw one it actually sat on the side walk and cleaned itself like a typical cat then kinda joggged along the side walk as i rollerbladed for maybe 50 or 60 yards before dissappearing in the grass. great experience i love the park

[Betsy]

About 10:30 this morning I was walking my dogs along the west cement trail and noticed the bobcat on the trail ahead of us. It stopped for a moment to scratch its ear in the middle of the trail, which caught the dogs' attention. We were about halfway down the trail, close to the area where you can sit and overlook the river. It crossed back towards the mountain bike trail with something small in its mouth. My dogs were just itching to play with that "kitty" cat! It disappeared quickly and my husband said he saw it on the dorba trail around the same time while he was riding. The bobcat crossed the trail in front of him and crouched in the brush, keeping a close eye on him as he passed by. We love River Legacy and the nature that we see there!

[Bradley J Borougerdi]

On Wed., November 19th, around 10am, while my son was in Nature School at the Living Science Center, I was jogging in the park. I began from the entrance where the exercise equipment is and continued right, passed both bridges, and went a little further across the West Fork Bridge. On my way back, I began a light jog, until I came upon a Bobcat that looks very similar to the one Brad has on his posting of Oct. 21. The Bobcat was about 10 yards in front of me, and I followed it for at least a quarter mile, until someone came from the other side of the trail and forced it to go into the woods. I stayed for awhile, hoping it would return, which it did, only to be sent back into the woods by bike rider a few minutes later. I stood there, eagerly awaiting its return, but gave up hope after about 10 minutes and continued back to the West Fork bridge, where I usually stop to gaze down the Trinity for awhile. A few minutes into my meditations, a rider from behind called out that there was a bobcat behind me. I turn, and the Bobcat was drifting towards me. As it approached within three feet of my side, we came into complete contact with each other. As I looked into the cats eyes, it briefly glanced back, and then went on its way, unperturbed by our meeting. I couldn’t believe how close it came! As the cat approached, I stood still and watched its every move. The most interesting aspect of the encounter was that it didn’t seem to worry about my presence, which puzzled me. I hope others who are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to stumble upon a magnificent experience such as this are wise enough to treat the animal with interest instead of fear. If we respect their territory, then we will be able to enjoy their presence for years to come. It is truly an experience that cannot be described.

[Forrest Shields]

Bobcat spotted while mountainbiking with my daughter. Locaton was off-road dirt trail, most western part of trail with series of hairpin curves. Bobcat had gray mouse dangling lifelessly from its' mouth. Subject bobcat stood 15 feet from us for moments then turned and fled eastward through the woods.

We love this park.

[Richard Falco]

Today March 25, 2009 in the San Bruno Hills above Skyline college I seen a cat with the distinct features of a bobcat but the size of a mountain lion, can anyone confirm that they have seen anything like this? This wasnt just a all alone sighting about 20 of us saw the animal and it watched us from about 2:00 until 3:00 when my day was over. But the cat was still there. It was about 150 yards up the hill and we had binoculars so there is no mistake on what it looked like and the size of the animal, but it was too big to be any bobcat i have ever heard of.

[anon]

It's great seeing the bob cats all over the park. I am avid mountain biker out there and beyond the bobcats i've seen that 300lb wild pig now 2 times. This guy is a little scary to come up on. He is typically out in the "west loop" part of the trail. This dude scared the heck out of me one day as I was really cooking through there then come up on that. They can burst speeds up to 20mph, and will really mess you up if they get a hold of you. Have you guys seen this big dude out there on your walks or rides?

[Bonnie]

I just saw one today on the red trail around noon, between the 2 mi marker and the Trinity bridge. It was standing there on the trail, seemingly without fear.