It wasn't that long ago that I thought spotting a bobcat in the tri-state would be like spotting a LEOPARD. I had no idea they were even in the area. (And we're all thankful we don't have to worry about leopards.)

Bobcats in Southern Indiana

When I first started hearing of bobcat sightings in the area, I did a little research and was surprised to learn that I shouldn't be at ALL surprised about these creatures popping up in our neck of the woods. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has been very helpful in this regard:

Bobcats, the only resident native wild cat in Indiana, are common in southern and parts of central Indiana, and increasing in northern Indiana.

Now, the Indiana DNR does go on to confirm part of what I mentioned earlier. Yes, they are common in southern Indiana, but, no, they're not commonly seen because of how well they blend into the background. However, if they're perched atop a round hay bale next to a busy highway, they don't much blending.

There he or she is just chilling out watching the world go by. In the post's comment section, Donna Jordan suggested the cat was daring Steven Bayer to come over. And honestly, it doesn't look at all bothered by the attention.

How Big Are Bobcats?

As Bayer noted, this is a large bobcat, but don't ever believe you've seen one and thought it was a mountain lion. Bobcats are the only native wild cat in Indiana. You won't find mountain lions in Kentucky either. Here's a size comparison:

Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
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See? Lots of differences.

I tip my hat to Steven Bayer; as I mentioned earlier, bobcats are common in Indiana but also reclusive. To get a video like this is very impressive.

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