I'm going to go ahead and say it. I believe there are bobcats living within Fairfax county. I've got the trail cameras to use. I've got the correct permissions and credentials. My plan is to find and identify the homes and roaming territories of your very own, Fairfax bobcats.
Believe it or not, Fairfax is home to these sly cats. The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is native to these parts as detailed by the Virginia Dept. Of Game and Inland Fisheries website. http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/?s=050051
Did you know that Quantico Marine Base has had extensive research detailing their own bobcats? They've got the proof here!
http://www.quanticosentryonline.com/image_97340446-3035-11e2-931b-001a4bcf6878.html
A bobcat seen in one area that I put a camera in might coincide with the time of another bobcat picture in another area. Eventually I hope to get enough pictures of bobcats to prove this method even though it is not entirely scientific. There are many variables with this research that I am not covering and a ridiculous amount of errors that may occur, so this is more of a personal project (in conjunction with the parks) to see how many cats there are out there.
Also, I am hoping to recognize individual bobcats that appear in my pictures. Once I do this, I hope to have somewhat of an answer as to how many (if there are) bobcats in these detailed areas.
Again, I follow all VDGIF rules and regulations, park regulations, and private property owners' rules.
I will not be scenting, baiting, harassing the animals (or their dens, homes, or young) to get these results.
I am trying to do this research in the least invasive way possible to the cats, you, me, the land, and other forms of wildlife.
Have you seen any bobcats in these areas?
Did you know that there are documented cases of bobcats here?
I would love to hear from you about these sightings.
Hey Brian!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Tim Regan, and I'm a writer for Northern Virginia Magazine. When you get a chance, can you e-mail me at tregan@northernvirginiamag.com? I'd love to get some more information about the bobcats (and other wildlife) appearing in Fairfax.
Thanks!
Tim
I spotted a Bobcat roaming through my backyard off Gallows road at 3am not far from Accotink stream Valley park maybe toward Eakin park.
DeleteTim, thank you for stopping by my blog and for your interest! I sent you an email and I'm looking forward to giving you some info!
ReplyDeleteI had one chase a rabbit through my backyard (just off Graham Road south of 50) in August around 6 am.
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of news that I like to hear. Was it this year?
Delete*Correction. Last year*. Also, do any woods or fields border this area?
DeleteOne of my friends saw one in Oakton off foxmill in his backyard...another one of my friends saw one on a median on ffx county parkway in Burke.. both in late 2012 ..I keep track of all the wildlife I see... I'll let you know if anything else happens
ReplyDeleteThis is great news to me! Thanks for the comment. Ever see a coyote around Fairfax?
DeleteMy mother just swears she saw a bobcat dash along the woods behind the single homes on Langbrook Dr. and the townhouses on Haverhill Court, VA. I looked it up to see if it was possible and found your site! I have personally sited numerous coyote taking the same route after hearing their single high pitched yips during mating season. I talked to the first one from my third story window. It sat and listened to me as I asked what it was. Are you a dog? No. Are you a wolf? No. Are you a coyote? It looked and got up and slowly disappeared in the woods behind our home. People thought I was a liar or hallucinating until the next Sunday had a cover of a headshot of a coyote with the title: They ARE Among Us. We don't have as many "lost cat" signs any more in the neighborhood. Happy searching. Hope you get the next Washington Post Magazine cover shot.
DeleteMy daughter saw one in West Springfield this weekend near the Springfield Country Club
ReplyDeleteVickie Graham of the Fairfax County police(who is a wildlife biologist for them) gave a talk a week ago at the West Springfield Police station and mentioned the sightings of the Bobcat. You should give the Hidden Pond Nature Center a call in West Springfield, they might allow your camera work to be done, and also call Riverbend Park-where Bobcats have been recorded.
ReplyDeleteOh, I have seen a Coyote at Hidden Pond Park, and I have friends who have seen them at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Centreville, Eakin Park in Annandale, and Accotink Stream Valley Park. In addition, friends of mine saw two at Fountainhead Regional Park.
ReplyDeleteI think I saw a bobcat last night, we are near Royal Lake in Fairfax
ReplyDeleteWe are off the Springfield Parkway (FFX County)...we have a pair of barred owls that we see and hear almost daily (also can hear their mating screeching often), fox (which come up to our fence nightly), coyotes that have wandered thru, and something we can't identify. We think it may be a bobcat, but cant get a good solid look at it.
ReplyDeleteWe believe that we have been hearing bobcat off of Fox Mill Road in Oakton. Have you had any further reportings of sightings in that area?
ReplyDeleteI believe we had a Bobcat kill a very young dear. In the woods behind my house in Algonkian Regional Park near Sugarland Creek. Kill was fresh, all soft tissue eaten, rib cage picked clean, spine severed. Head left and some shoulder. Was drug around during the feast, several areas of red blood and matted down snow. Two piles of skat with hair in skat. Took picture and compared to skat pictures on internet, Definitely not coyote, bear or fox. Mostly resembles bobcat. We had a bobcat sighting a couple of years ago by a neighbor chasing a full size deer down the path behind house.
ReplyDeleteThis is in my neck of the woods, so I'm especially interested. Would you be able to email me any pictures you have? balikbrian@gmail.com. Title the post as "Sugarland Bobcat" or something of that sort, please.
DeleteBobcat ran in front of my truck this morning about 3am on my way to firehouse near Reston ave and route 7
ReplyDeleteI saw a bobcat in the woods next to Frying Pan Road in Herndon, between Centerville Rd and Route 28, July 2015. I told a neighbor and she reported that her son had walked in that area in August and had seen the grass pressed down from a largish animal, with appropriate sized scat. And when something growled at him, he left the area. I've been watching but have not seen it since. I have seen coyote on several occasions.
ReplyDeleteWe've had a bobcat sighted in our neighborhood near Kingstowne in Alexandria (between Franconia Road, 495, and South Van Dorn). The first sighting was in 2007, but was dismissed. In the past two months, we have had numerous reports of a bobcat walking along fence lines in open grass areas in the neighborhood. I was still skeptical until last night when I heard a bobcat call off and on for 90 seconds along the creek behind my house.
ReplyDeleteWe've had a bobcat sighted in our neighborhood near Kingstowne in Alexandria (between Franconia Road, 495, and South Van Dorn). The first sighting was in 2007, but was dismissed. In the past two months, we have had numerous reports of a bobcat walking along fence lines in open grass areas in the neighborhood. I was still skeptical until last night when I heard a bobcat call off and on for 90 seconds along the creek behind my house.
ReplyDeleteSaw a possible bobcat in Reston near small pond that leads into Lake Anne (Hickory cluster). May have been a cat. Too far for me to see exactly. Either large cat or small bobcat. Have seen one in the wild in California--this looked smaller than that, but bigger than a cat. Had definite hairy fringe on side of head. I saw it defecating so could show an expert the location if they wanted to test the deposit.
ReplyDeleteI'm honestly sort of 50/50 on it. Just by looks I would say it was more likely to be a bobcat, but I didn't have great view. And then the location is very "unwild". Also, there is a fox who hangs out in that area (behind Lake Anne Elementary), so would be surprised at another predator nearby.
Spotted a rather large bobcat make a 75- to 100-yard dash near intersection of Georgetown Pike and Riverbend Rd. Apr 8 at 1700h. Bounded full-speed down Nethercliffe Hall Rd, clearing approx 4-5 feet with each leap.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbor saw a bobcat running from the front of my house, as she pulled in this evening. We live just southeast of Vienna Metro, and along Blake Lane park.She further said last week she witnessed a bobcat chasing a smaller animal through our neighborhood. I hope the prey got away, many people here have cats they allow to live in and outside.
ReplyDelete