3 of Boise’s sneakiest creatures spotted near Greenbelt. Here’s how to see one
Bobcats are one of Boise’s sneakiest creatures.
They may not be particularly rare locally, but they are hard to see, according to local experts. But Idaho Statesman photojournalist Sarah A. Miller was in the “right place at the right time” Wednesday morning.
An adult and two younger bobcats were spotted at about 8:30 a.m. on a trail on the Idaho Shakespeare Festival Amphitheater and Reserve grounds along East Warm Springs Avenue, right near the Boise Greenbelt. The Idaho Shakespeare Festival uses the property through an agreement with the Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. It lies just to the south of the Greenbelt and to the west of Ada County’s Barber Pool Conservation Area wildlife refuge.
The adult feline climbed a tree to chase a squirrel, while the younger two watched from the ground.
Vicky Runnoe, conservation education supervisor at the MK Nature Center, previously gave the Statesman some helpful tips for Boiseans hoping to seeing one (or three!) of these animals.
1. Hang out near the Greenbelt
With its offering of water and forest cover, the Greenbelt makes a surprisingly good home for Idaho’s smallest wildcat. They wander up and down the river corridor looking for their next meal.
“It‘s the perfect habitat for them,” Runnoe said. “They have plenty to eat there, with squirrels and small rodents and rabbits and things like that.”
2. Go early or late
Bobcats prefer the night and are rarely active during the day. Try to catch them early in the morning or later in the evening while they’re still out.
Try a quiet stretch farther from the city center like the Bethine Church River Trail in East Boise.
“You have to be in the right place at the right time,” Runnoe said. “A lot of it is just luck.”
3. Move slowly
Bobcats are shy creatures, so be careful not to scare them away before you’re even aware of their presence.
Runnoe cautions bobcat seekers to walk slowly and quietly. Not only will you have a better chance of them sticking around, but it will also give your eyes a chance to pick them out.
“Sometimes you may be seen by one, and you don’t see them,” Runnoe said. “They are so well camouflaged that if you’re hiking along the river and just glance over, you may not even notice it because they’re so well camouflaged.”
Bobcat colors can range from “light brown to gray with black spots and stripes on its back and sides” with tufted cheeks, a white belly, and a short “bobbed” tail, according to the Idaho Fish and Game website. They are usually 16 to 20 inches tall.
4. Be respectful
Runnoe stressed that anyone out looking for wildlife of any kind should be respectful and stay at a distance. She advises using binoculars or telephoto lenses to get a better look at bobcats and other animals.
“Give them their space,” Runnoe said. “If any wild animal ... changes its behavior it means you’re too close.”
