This work is supported by the generous backers who adore my cat stories at Patreon.com/amberunmasked and they also get first access to what’s happening with my books and podcast.

Where We Left Off:

We had to conduct a night time investigation with the black light to look for evidence that might explain what Gus has been smelling.

Wildcats:

We’ve had several bobcat sightings since 2021. They’re pretty rare and the only pattern we have discerned is the location. I worry about the bobcat. I’ve never seen more than one at a time. This road has turned into a highway of selfish drivers. It’s gotten so bad that one of the neighbors had to complain to the police about an incident of a driver actually having the gall to pass a school bus on a winding, double-yellow line! People as a species suck.

Gus has definitely picked up tracking information from the footprints in the dirt and snow. He’ll follow them to the borders but rarely allow his SuperSmeller to lead him all the way to where the scent ends. Oliver has less experience with this since he is always chauffeured in his buggy. He will insist on taking time to smell bushes, weeds, and flowers. Ollie’s strength is in his psychedelic tracking: savoring some catnip and then reaching out for the bobcat or other friend through the astral planes.

Unlike with our bear encounters, I never have to worry about a hunting season for the bobcat because it’s endangered in our state. That doesn’t mean there would never be accidents like road collisions or someone stupid thinking it’s a coyote and shooting it. Personally, I don’t think they should be shooting coyotes either. I’ve encountered dogs in parks that cause me far more stress and fear than a coyote. It’s also pretty messed up that there is still trapping going on in New Jersey for mammals. That means there’s always the risk of a trap “accidentally” snaring a bobcat or other endangered animal.

This accidental slaughter is a problem globally with all kinds of animal life. If you pay attention, you should have been hearing about the ocean life deaths called “bycatch.”

Wherever there is fishing, there is bycatch—the incidental capture of non-target species such as dolphins, marine turtles and seabirds. Thousands of miles of nets and lines are set in the world’s oceans each day. Modern fishing gear, often undetectable by sight and extremely strong, is very efficient at catching the desired fish species—as well as anything else in its path. A staggering amount of marine life—including turtles, dolphins and juvenile fish—is hauled up with the catch, and then discarded overboard dead or dying. —https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/bycatch

I’m sure there must be a similar term or maybe it’s the same term for these accidental trapping murders and injuries. I tried finding reports on the number of incidental trapping occurrences, but couldn’t find anything. I came across an old message board from 2011 where some hunters found their mistaken prey humorous while others were sad. One such regretful post was a hunter whose own dog got caught in a leg trap. He said the dog was so happy to see him because he didn’t know it was his human’s dumbass fault. There were various posts about snaring cats which was also divisive whether it was a good or bad thing. At least if it’s a trap that only cages the animal and it can be relocated, that’s better than killing it.

Those traps are around New Jersey and many other states. My advice is the same as for glue traps and fruit tree nets: you cannot possibly target the animals you want so there will be accidental murders or bycatch! You should not wind glue strips around trees for red-spotted lantern bugs. You should not net your vegetables and fruit trees. Birds and bats will especially be harmed by these. Oliver also reminded me of a post by the Animal Control Officers who have had to free fawns and foxes from soccer nets! Take that shit down!

Check to see if your state also has a citizen reporting system for rare wildlife sightings. In New Jersey, you used to fill out a form and email it. Now they have an online version. When making a report, I would include aerial images from Google Maps of the area to include the busy streets and nearest intersection plus the photos (whether I took them or the trailcam did).

We have now officially been in Spring for one week. ‘Tis the end of mating season for some local animals. We had a lot of fox activity in February as they chased each other around. February through March is supposed to be the bobcat mating season.

As previously mentioned, the only pattern we’ve determined is that the bobcat comes up from the road, walks along the edge of the woods near Fort Winchester, then turns down one of the trails to head deeper into the woods. It’s an assumption, but a pretty one, that the bobcat we’ve seen and caught on the trail camera is the same one our friend Stan the Qi Gong teacher has seen by his house. He lives where one of the big trails ends and he has a pond filled with water lilies! He gets all kinds of creature encounters.

What does it take for this Browning Elite trail camera to take photos that aren’t blurry? Argh! We get some great shots once in a while, but not all the time. These are the specs:

1600 x 900p HD+ Videos with Sound

Case Findings:

Our photographed/confirmed bobcat sightings have been: 4/25/2021, 11/11/2022, 12/10/2022, 2/28/2023. This doesn’t include visual sightings where we couldn’t get photos. We’re hoping our bobcat friend is safe and will be able to mate successfully this season. Gus is looking forward to finding more tracks and seeing what new data he can add to the dossier.

Case Status: Open