Man Sees Large Animal In His Yard, Gets ‘Rare’ Sighting Of Predator

A rare encounter between a bobcat and a squirrel has been caught on camera.

Footage of the meeting was captured by a Ring security camera and the video was later shared with NewsweekThe footage was shot outside a residential property in Fort Pierce, Florida on August 4 and is a stunning sight.

The sighting came as a shock to homeowner Morris. He told Ring: “I was sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a cup of coffee when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a large animal running toward the palm tree through the window. It turned out to be a bobcat chasing a squirrel.”

Morris said the location of his home means encounters with wildlife are relatively common.

“We live along the St. Lucie River, where a lot of the surrounding land is protected wetlands, so a lot of the area is natural, dense vegetation,” he said. “That makes for great habitat for a lot of critters and, of course, a few bobcats.”

However, he had yet to see a bobcat near his home, which made the sighting a little more special.

“This was my first time seeing this, so I was lucky that my Ring camera captured this rare sighting, allowing me to share it with my neighbors,” he said.

The 22-second video shows a bobcat chasing a squirrel. At one point, the squirrel appears to have outwitted its pursuer, clinging tightly to one side of the tree while the predator is locked in on the other side, desperately searching for its prey.

There is a brief moment of confrontation before the squirrel rushes up the tree, thinking that the bobcat will not be able to pursue them. This gamble initially pays off, but it is not for lack of trying on the part of the larger animal, as the bobcat is seen climbing a little higher up the tree in hopes of intercepting the fleeing squirrel.

Incredibly, the bobcat reaches the area higher up in the tree where the squirrel escaped. Another flurry of blows ensues before the squirrel escapes back into the tree, this time with the bobcat only hesitantly chasing it.

In the end, the bobcat appears to have admitted defeat and climbs back down the tree into the driveway. While it’s unclear where the bobcat is headed next, Morris may want to take steps to ensure there are no repeat visits.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recognizes that there are some benefits to having bobcats in the area.

“Bobcats are beneficial because they control populations of rodents, rabbits and other small animals,” they said.

However, owners should take steps to ensure that bobcat visits are kept to a minimum.

“Bobcat problems are best prevented or addressed by providing attractants and preventing them from becoming comfortable around residences and pets,” they said.