D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 1 9
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BOBCAT
• BOBBED TAIL
• BROWN IN COLOR
• DEFINED SPOTS ON COAT
• SHORT LEGS
MONTANA'S
Bobcat
by JOSH METTEN
T
HE BOBCAT STOPPED IN THE TRAIL
AND LOOKED STRAIGHT INTO MY
EYES. I froze, surprised by my good
fortune. ough (s)he was a juvenile, the bobcat,
oversized paws and all, was still about twice the
size of a house cat. Its camouflaged coat was dotted
with dark spots, ending with a short, bobbed tail.
We stared at each other for what seemed several min-
utes before the cat, satisfied with its observation, turned
its head, silently disappearing into the ponderosa pine
forest. In many places seeing a bobcat in the wild is a rare
treat. is chance encounter made for one of the highlights
of my summer.
Photo of a
bobcat taken in
a controlled area
by Steve Akre
