CLEAR LAKE RIVIERA >> About the only thing missing was Marlin Perkins’ narration for Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.
When Gloria Beauseau heard a commotion and looked outside at Riviera Marina a week ago, she didn’t gaze upon a bird singing in a tree, a bunny rabbit hopping by or a fish jumping out of the water. What Beauseau did see was a freshly killed deer being eaten by a rather hungry bobcat. The bobcat took its time with its meal and didn’t seem to mind being photographed. When it had eaten its fill it went on its way. The deer carcass was then visited by the local carrion crowd before another visitor, this time a black bear, meandered to the scene looking for an easy meal of leftovers.
While the bobcat was a new visitor to the Riviera Marina, according to Beauseau, the bear is a frequent and unwanted customer. In fact, the bear tore apart the marina’s trash can looking for food on a previous visit.
Beauseau said she also has video of the bobcat/bear encounter.
Bobcats can be found throughout Lake County. In fact, they are found throughout most of the United States. Males average about 21 pounds and females 15 pounds. Larger bobcats weigh up to 50 pounds. They are usually tan to grayish-brown in color with black streaks on the body and dark bars on the forelegs and tail, which effectively serves as camouflage for the cats. Their stubby tail gave them their name and one of their more prominent features are black-tufted ears.
Bobcats are found in all type of terrain and quickly adjust to their surroundings. Their diet consists primarily of rabbits and hares, but they will eat insects, chickens, geese and other birds as well as small rodents and the occasional deer.
