Bobcat Hunts Rattlesnake (Video)

Photo by NPS.

WARNING: This video shows a prey animal being caught and killed

Bobcats are amazing creatures!

I see their tracks and scat often when I’m hiking. But it’s a rare treat when I actually catch site of one.

They have large territories. Females have territories of approximately five square miles and males can have territories as large as 30 square miles. And they’re mainly crepuscular, being most active at dusk and dawn.

When I do get close to one, it’s usually because the cat is distracted. I once observed a bobcat stalk and catch a pocket gopher. The cat was so engrossed in its hunt that I was able to creep to within 50 feet of it when it made its kill.

Bobcats in my area are roughly twice the size of a common housecat. I see them mostly in grassland habitat where their tawny coats and white bellies provide excellent camouflage.

Bobcat Hunts a Rattlesnake

The bobcats near me eat rabbits, rodents, insects, and birds. It didn’t occur to me that rattlesnake might be on the menu. I assumed most animals go out of their way to avoid this venomous reptile — I know I do! 🙂

The trail camera video below has been floating around the Internet. It shows a bobcat catching and killing a rattlesnake. You can see at the beginning of the video that this is not a chance encounter. The bobcat changes direction to challenge the snake. And the snake rattles its distinctive warning to try to get the cat to back off.

You can also hear the warning calls of birds as the conflict begins. The scene goes from baseline to alarm in seconds. I write about how bird language can help you detect predators and help you perceive the forest around you. This is a good example of how bird language would alert you to drama nearby.

If you are squeamish, you may want to skip the video. Otherwise, watch it full-screen for the most detail.

Tell me what you think of this encounter in the comments below.