Palomar Mountain News

Guessing most of you glanced through a recent post about a ‘Grey Bobcat‘? It peeked the interest of one of the subscribers. He didn’t leave his name but left a VM at 7:30 am: “… I thought you’d be up by now doing business. This call isn’t for business, this is monkey business but I’m thinkin’ your gray bobcat is more likely to be a gray lynx. They have been known to be seen around this neck of the woods from time to time over my past 88 years or more …”

I ‘d been up for an hour but hadn’t turned my phone on yet. Well, I just had to call this guy who hadn’t left his name. When he answered, I recognized his voice right off. Arlie Bergman. He said he is going on 89 years old now. The Bergman and Mendenhall families have a lot of history on this mountain and the Lynx, known as ‘King of their Country’ are a part of the back country.

We’ve lived up here since 1998 and in my adventures out and about I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Lynx. When I took that photo, he was making eye contact and we were so close. Bobcats usually keep moving and run off. He seemed a little close for comfort so I started backing up and he turned and went on his way. This cat seemed much bigger than the bobcats we see frequently. I’d never really noticed tails or the tuffs on their ears before so it was interesting to glance at some of these links when I searched Lynx vs. Bobcat difference.

Thank you Arlie, we’re learning something new everyday!