Bobcats in Northern VA

People hardly believe they are in our area, but there are many tales (bobbed tales!) of these extremely well hidden creatures roaming the suburbs.  So let's finally break this one down for all the Northern VA suburbanites out there.

Yes, we do have native bobcats roaming Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William Counties.  They are not something to fear, but more of something to be aware of.  I've seen them on multiple outings while wildlifin' around the area.  Sterling, Leesburg, Bluemont, McLean, Great Falls, Haymarket, Manassas, and Falls Church are all places where I've either seen them in person or on trail cameras.

Bobcats are predators, but will most likely leave your pets alone.  They feast on rabbits, birds, snakes, moles, mice, shrews, and other small meals.  I've seen a family of bobcats raiding a trash dumpster outside of a business right next to a major highway in Fairfax County.  There have been some roadkilled ones as well.  Great Falls had two roadkilled (that I know of) just in the past 3 months.  There have been roadkills on Kirby Road near McLean, Virginia a few times in the past two years, and I've even heard about one killed on the road on Fairfax County Parkway.

So where's the pictures?

Well, here they are!!!

These are brought to you from the Centreville/Haymarket area with permissions from other camera owners and my own cameras.

Have you ever seen a bobcat in Northern Virginia?  Comment here and let me know!

Coyotes In Fauquier County, Virginia

At the beginning of the hunting season, I wasn't exactly sure if I should keep all cameras up or not, due to the fact that there would be an increase in human activity off-trail in the places where my cameras are.

I took a few down, a few did get stolen, and I moved some around.  Two of the cameras that I was using in Great Falls, Virginia were taken down and lent to a friend to take to two pieces of property in Fauquier County.

The locations she chose did not disappoint.  I posted images from one of the cameras in a previous post.  You can see that here:  No Shortage of Virginia Bucks .

Now it is time to reveal more photos of the wildlife of Fauquier County, Virginia. 

More specifically, coyotes that roam in the night!

The first one is a bit blurry, as the coyote is moving quickly.

 

 

Someone recently asked me what the trick to seeing coyotes around here was, I told them to get a trail camera or to be up really early in the morning near coyote habitats (the edges of deep woods where the woods hits meadows, stream valleys, and large open meadows).

It seems like there is a lot more of those kinds of areas in Northern Virginia than people think.

We have the Capital Beltway which encircles the greater D.C. area, many housing developments, and a complete chaos of a rush-hour.

In all of that though, there really are many places where coyotes, bears, foxes, and birds dominate the area.  The local parks are some of the best places along with many private properties that are large open fields.

Most people that have contacted me about seeing coyotes get lucky and see them crossing a road early in the morning.

Coyotes have been seen all over, and I can confirm that there are many around.  If you want to see one in Northern Virginia, get out in these places, keep quiet, and be patient.

Bobcats in Fairfax County?

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.