Some moments in nature are magical, and they seem almost unreal. We have an impression that the world is briefly opening a door for us to show us something private.
These wonders are impossible to forget.
One afternoon, David Schneider and his wife pulled into their driveway and witnessed something precious.
The couple noticed that something furry was moving near the edge of their yard.
After they looked closer, they realized what was going on.
A Surprising Encounter
They discovered that the furry creature was a bobcat.
Schneider took his camera and started taking photos. Although he was excited, he tried not to scare the bobcat away.
“I ran inside to get the camera out,” Schneider told The Dodo. “It was only after I had started taking a bunch of photos that I realized there were two of them.”
The pair felt completely at ease and moved through the yard with excitement.
Schneider kept a distance of about 25 yards. He enjoyed watching the bobcats rolling in the grass and wrestling playfully.
They chased each other in circles before climbing up a nearby tree. They looked full of life and joy.
Schneider captured more than a thousand photos. He was amazed at how lucky he was to witness it all.
A Tender Moment Captured
As Schneider observed them, he began to sense that the two bobcats were related. He suspected that they were a mother and her kitten.
The tender moments between the two bobcats delighted him.
“The most special part of it was how they would bump heads and faces,” Schneider said. “It is a sweet, intimate expression and a window into the deeply personal bond these beautiful creatures forge. A real ‘awwww’ moment.”
Schneider noticed the way the kitten pressed its face against the larger bobcat. It was a way of expressing trust and comfort.
The young one seemed to feel safe enough to lean in, and the mother responded in a heartwarming way.
It was a wonderful display of affection between two animals who rarely allow humans to witness such moments.
Since Schneider lives near a hillside, he often sees wildlife traveling through his yard.
Coyotes, hawks, and the occasional bobcat pass by. He once saw a bobcat peeking around his patio. He works from home and keeps his camera nearby, always hoping to capture scenes like these.
“Seeing their markings up close was amazing,” he said. “They are beautiful animals. It almost looks like they have white eyeliner on.”
Schneider also understands that wild animals need space to live naturally. He watched the bobcats with respect, grateful for the chance to see them without interrupting their world.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, bobcats usually give birth in late spring or early summer, which means the kitten he saw was likely between four and seven months old.
It won’t take long for the young bobcat to leave its mother and begin life on its own, helping to maintain the natural balance of the area.
“[I’m] very lucky that they are close by,” Schneider reflected. “And feel safe enough around us to be themselves.”