Bobcats get unbelievably close to Texas hiker in special encounter
The highly elusive felines are known to be shy and usually avoid people.
By Ariana Garcia,Assistant News EditorDec 15, 2024
Andre Mirakyan encountered a bobcat while visiting Estero Llano Grande State Park at the end of the November.
Andre Mirakyan
After 20 years of trying to capture clear photos of one of the most secretive creatures in Texas, a wildlife photographer finally got the close up he had sought for so long. On Nov. 29, Andre Mirakyan visited the Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, where he was informed that a bobcat was taking a nap at the bird blind. "I get to see see one every other month, often on my neighborhood walks, or in one of many state parks, but in 20 years of doing nature photography, I have captured just a couple of half-decent frames of them," Mirakyan said. "There is always something, too dark, no camera, too much camera, and most of the time the kitty just disappears too fast. I have, honestly, given up on them."
Andre Mirakyan said it was the first time had been able to get such clear photos of a bobcat in Texas.Andre Mirakyan
Still hopeful, Mirakyan headed to the location only to find that the cat was no longer there. "My usual bobcat luck," he said. However, as he was packing his backpack to head out of the park, he found the big cat sitting right in front of him. "A beautiful, healthy-looking bobcat in her prime was smiling at me," he said. "She was totally chill and relaxed and had no intention of running away."
A few feet away, Mirakyan found her shy kitten hiding in a patch of a grass was her kitten. The young feline was not responding to its mother's call so she "had to encourage it to move with some 'paddling'," he said.
Andre Mirakyan called his encounter with two bobcats at a Texas state park "a lifer."
 
Andre Mirakyan
Andre Mirakyan captured a mother bobcat "paddling" her kitten at Estero Llano Grande State Park. Andre Mirakyan
The once-in-a-lifetime encounter lasted for a few minutes until the bobcats walked up the road and disappeared into the bush. It's an experience Mirakyan won't soon forget. "A lifer for me in a big way!" he said.
Andre Mirakyan said his encounter with the bobcats lasted for a few minutes before they disappeared into a bush.
Andre Mirakyan
The species can be found throughout Texas, but their highly secretive nature and the fact that the solitary creatures are most active at night keeps them from being seen by most people. Per the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, there are two subspecies of bobcats in the state—the desert bobcat found in the west and northwest part of the state, and the Texas bobcat, which ranges over the rest of the state. They are difficult to see in the wild and typically avoid people, making Mirakyan's close encounter special. |
