A trail camera in Ohio captured a remarkable image showing five bobcats traveling together in the Washington County wilderness.
The image, shared by Kimberly Murnieks and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, shows how well the cats blend with the trees and leaves.
“Pretty cool to see 5 bobcats in one pic!” The ODNR exclaimed on Facebook.
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The image was captured on Christmas Eve by a motion-sensor trail camera operated by Murnieks’ father, Bill West.
Check out this pic that my Dad caught on his #TrailCam in Washington County on the afternoon of Christmas Eve – five bobcats! #SEOhio #Appalachia #WildOhio #Family @ohiodnr @OhioDivWildlife @OhioFindItHere
[📷: Bill West, Marietta, #Ohio] pic.twitter.com/Ag79vUsqBY— Kimberly Murnieks (@Kim_Murnieks) December 27, 2021
Bobcats are native to Ohio but were extirpated by hunters and trappers by 1850. They began to repopulate in the mid-1900s, according to the ONDR.
The image is remarkable because bobcats are solitary and elusive. Thanks to the advent of trail cameras, bobcat sightings in Ohio are increasingly common.