Madison River January 27 2015 14:50 Bobcats are rarely seen and even more rarely photographed. They use my property in Virgi...

Madison River January 27 2015 14:50
Bobcats are rarely seen and even more rarely photographed. They use my property in Virginia and I have never seen them . In Yellowstone a rare phenomena has happened in winter a couple of cats have figured out they can hunt along the river in winter by laying along the river hidden waiting for foraging water birds to float by. The coyotes know this as well and they search each day smelling and looking to see if they can steal the hard earned meal from the cats. One visitor was able to photograph a coyote climbing a tree to try and get to Bobcat and its prey.
I heard about this from a snowmobile guide and spent many days looking for this along with everyone else that was in the park in winter. We finally got lucky and found the cat sleeping in a riverside brush pile. It was as they say sleeping with one eye open in case a meal came and to protect from the coyotes. I was able to make a few images.
This is a magic situation because the cat can work safely and undisturbed because the river separates it from all the people like me trying to see it. If you go be respectful and most of all be quiet.
Photo by @michaelnicknichols // I spent 14 months photographing in Yellowstone for the coming May 2016 issue of National Geographic Magazine. My haunting fear was how to show a new view of the worlds first National Park
Words by @davidquammen photos and video by this team @dguttenfelder @chamiltonjames @erika_larsen @joeriis @ronan_donovan @drewtrush @e.l.johns @shannon_sanders.
Will post images @michaelnicknichols and @natgeo #yellowstone #yellowstonenationalpark #nationalgeographic #nationalpark