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Post by tinman4x on May 3, 2009 17:00:27 GMT -9
After a lengthy bike ride across the park and beyond Angelfire25 and I returned to the parking lot at Campbell tract. I'd been watching for bears all morning and what did we see coming off coyote trail? The largest bobcat I've ever seen! It was headed North across the street. This one looked really well fed (probably grazing all winter on nearby homeowners pets).
Just thought I'd share that, oh and we didn't see any bears today.
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Post by FrostG1anT on May 3, 2009 19:25:13 GMT -9
It would have to be a Lynx that you saw as there are no bobcats in Alaska. There have been recent Lynx sightings in Bear Valley. Lynx are fabulous creatures, usually you wouldn't get the chance to see them as they tend to blend in and move away from human populations.
Although they are not the biggest kitty in the cat world they are an animal to be respected as they can hold their own in just about any fight, bear and wolverine are usually the victors in a head to head. But Lynx have been known to get the upper hand on a wolverine, but that is the exception and not the rule.
Lynx are beautiful creatures and if you get the chance to view them in the wild at a respectably safe distance you are in for a treat. I once had one in my backyard and it was so impressive to watch for the 20 minutes it frolicked in our then unfenced yard.
I saw several porcupine, a coyote and beaver in the woods this weekend. It is springtime and all the other wildlife is taking advantage of this great weather too. LBK and I were charged by a moose on the trails this weekend. Just remember we all share the wilderness. Be safe out there and watch for the furry fellows in the woods (and the animals too ;D )
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Post by ladybugkids on May 3, 2009 19:37:44 GMT -9
I agree with FrostG1anT that is was probably a lynx since bobcats hail from where I grew up a good bit south. They look similar, but lynx are bigger. The Bear Valley lynx have been preying on dogs according to flyers in the neighborhood, so mind your pets. FrostG1anT also mentioned our moose encounter. Be extra careful until green-up arrives because the moose are very stressed from lack of food this time of year. The moose that came after us chose to rush two humans and three medium-sized dogs as we were starting into the alders to go around him rather than go the opposite direction up an unobstructed trail. Fortunately, there were no casualties, though it took 10-15 minutes to recollect the dogs who smartly bolted down the trail and around a switchback to safe ground below us. The Moose About Five Minutes Before the Charge No hackles up, ears forward, no warning [/center]
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Post by omgcrew on May 3, 2009 19:58:21 GMT -9
Better close those trail before somebody gets killed.
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FLYRFN
Silver Cacher
Posts: 180
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Post by FLYRFN on May 3, 2009 20:34:13 GMT -9
Is there money in the budget for a Moose cop?
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Post by ladybugkids on May 3, 2009 20:55:52 GMT -9
Is there money in the budget for a Moose cop? How about a porcupine cop? The same evening during a moonlight hike out of Potter Valley all three dogs sampled porcupine which caused more angst than the moose charge. Fortunately, FrostG1anT was game to help me avoid a trip to the pet emergency room and we extracted about 100 quills from Mesa, 30 quills from Mons, and three quills from Victor using a Leatherman tool by the light of our headlamps. I ended up with a quill in my shirt during the fray that I didn't notice until I got home. I hope I got all my wildlife encounters for the season out of the way.
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Post by oleruns on May 3, 2009 21:44:16 GMT -9
I seem to remember a trip in Kincaid with LBK when a young moose went after Mesa. I wasn't sure if bear mace was going to work on a moose but I was ready to try.
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FLYRFN
Silver Cacher
Posts: 180
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Post by FLYRFN on May 3, 2009 21:59:58 GMT -9
Bear mace does NOT work on Moose, don't even waste it!
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Po1ar
Silver Cacher
Posts: 122
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Post by Po1ar on May 4, 2009 2:29:13 GMT -9
I don't know if bear mace works on a moose but we used a tiny can of mace that you can get for personal use on one once while out ice fishing and it worked like a charm. Moose turned on a dime once it hit the mace cloud. Good thing too!!! There really isn't anywhere to go in the winter when you are out on a lake ice fishing and a crazed moose charges you.
On seeing wild like, Malcore and I saw 3 moose today at a very fa distance but a musk rat at an alarmingly close distance. It decided to cross the New Seward with tons of traffic. I nearly died of a heart attack for it!!! Good Grief!!!
I wish I got to see the lynx instead! They are awesome!!!!
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Post by tinman4x on May 4, 2009 7:57:53 GMT -9
I've seen numerous lynx here in Alaska and in B.C. and this one had very little in the way of markings, it was also a color I've never seen before. I was actually considering calling the zoo to see if something got loose.
I killed several bobcats while predator hunting down in the states and have more up close experience with them than lynx or North American Mtn lions. The size would make it a nice lynx but the coloration was all wrong, it didn't even have the black tips on it's ears. It was a deeper shade of brown not quite chocolate lab color and a curious absence of stripes or spotted patches. I wonder if some exotic pet owner is missing a cat and afraid to report it. I'm just glad we got such a up close look at it since I doubt we'll get another chance like that soon.
I'm not overly concerned with what it was, it was just a treat to see. Maybe it is a rouge strain of lynx with odd fur, if so I bet it could be turned into a great hat or pair of gloves.
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Po1ar
Silver Cacher
Posts: 122
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Post by Po1ar on May 4, 2009 10:24:49 GMT -9
No Hat! or Gloves!!! If it is a lynx of unique coloration then I think it deserves to live so maybe others will get the treat of seeing it someday ( In Nature) as well.
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Post by ladybugkids on May 4, 2009 13:11:40 GMT -9
I've seen numerous lynx here in Alaska and in B.C. and this one had very little in the way of markings, it was also a color I've never seen before. I was actually considering calling the zoo to see if something got loose. Hmmm...you've tickled some memory cells. There was a woman in town that hand an "exotic" cat or two that got loose during the past year or so. Wonder if it was one of them or something similar?
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Po1ar
Silver Cacher
Posts: 122
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Post by Po1ar on May 4, 2009 14:52:47 GMT -9
She had a Savanah. She had to get rid of it because they are illegal in AK. So she sent it to her daughter in AZ. I looked them up after I saw the article online and they run about $25,000. FOR A CAT!!!! Suddenl the cat I wanted doesn't seem so outrageous!
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Post by li1gray on May 4, 2009 17:56:12 GMT -9
Wow that must have been a nice siting. I have only seen a Lynx in the wild and none have ever come to my Bear baiting area where we have a trail camera or else we would have a nice picture of them! The only one was on the back side of Elmendorf about 4 years ago in the evening about this time of year. Just north of the Port of Anchorage. Would love to see a few more of them
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Post by hixfromthestix on May 4, 2009 20:29:45 GMT -9
We have saw one of them on a recent hunting trip last fall. The big guy was sitting right along the road near the Park's Hwy where it crosses the Nenana. It sat there and watched us for quiet a bit. But it didn't have the black on it's ear tips either. And I have been privy to there mating call as some had a den behind a house during my childhood. You think alley cat's are bad dudring there season. I have to agree with Tinman though they would make an incredible hat or gloves. But they also look great in the wild. Perhaps the one seen is a high breed or perhaps the result of inbreeding and that is why his markings were differrent. Or it was an escape from someone. I don't think I would advertise that I lost my Bobcat with the people of Anchorage not having a big tolerance for that sort of thing. To bad you didn't get a picture of the guy. I knew someone when I was young that had a tiger cub in there house. However I do think they need a moose czar before a bear czar. The moose have hasseled me alot more than bear in my caching experience's. Just my 2 cents.
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Post by li1gray on May 5, 2009 8:40:42 GMT -9
Well I know where the "bobcat" could get an easy lunch! Kincaid Park, We've been out there doing some caches over the last few weeks and have these "tame" wild birds okay it is a couple of ptarmigan coming up to us while out caching. One flew on top of the truck at Pern 25 while we were stopped along the road and then it got on the door frame, Team Meister then put his arm up and the bird moved over to it, No food given to it. He tried to scare it away but it kept coming back, he took it across the road it flew back again, finally the best was when it flew onto TM's head and sat there! This past Saturday out at Mize Folly another bird did the same thing with us. was not the same bird this last one was much thinner. I know I sent NorthWes one of the pictures maybe he can post the photo I have a heck of a time with those. Polgera has one with the bird sitting right beside the Mizes Folly cache too. This one liked Capra Hircus's gloves! www.geocities.com/li1gray/geopictures/smS4300608.JPG
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Post by oleruns on May 5, 2009 20:13:06 GMT -9
I looked them up after I saw the article online and they run about $25,000. FOR A CAT!!!! Suddenl the cat I wanted doesn't seem so outrageous! I have two new FREE kittens and so far, we are over $3,000 for the two just being good pet owners with shots, fixed and micro chips. HA - All that and a micro chip LOL
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Po1ar
Silver Cacher
Posts: 122
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Post by Po1ar on May 5, 2009 20:35:09 GMT -9
Ole, I know! I'm starting to think that when we do finally get around to getting a cat that it will be a pound kitten.
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