2020 – July 25 ISSUE: CURIOUS BOBCAT VISITS BOSQUE PRESERVE

A frequent bike rider in the Corrale Bosque Preserve, Guy Spencer recently came across a less frequent visitor: a bobcat, right on the trail. “I’m an avid mountain biker, and throughout the years, I’ve certainly come across and run into many cool things and experiences,” Spencer recalled after the July 15 encounter.  “This however quite possibly falls into its own little bucket.

“I was out on the bosque this morning, getting a cool, quiet ride in around 6 a.m.  I often ride during this time, selfishly taking advantage of the solitude and grace the bosque so unselfishly offers to many of us early bird-ers.

“There’s “Gene” who walks 10 miles almost every day; there’s the nice couple who moved here from Seattle; the quiet guy in the jump suit and hoodie, and a handful of other ‘regulars.’

“I was headed back south from top of the trail, about to cross the arroyo just north of the reconstructed trail head on Romero Road, north side of the arroyo, on the single track. Just as I was coming out and around that last bush, this little fella walked right out in front of me” abut 10 feet away.

“At first I assumed it was a solo dog …and then, as I looked over at it towards the river, it gazed back at me.  Well, that was no dog!

“What took me by surprise was quickly overridden by how calm this creature was.  I bet I fumbled with my phone for almost an entire minute before I was able to take three shots.  Amazing.

“I was just standing there over my bike watching the cat move ever so slowly away from me …fearless, content and unsuspecting.

“What a blessing to have seen it so close.  Just a gorgeous creature. “