Did You See This Rare Footage of Bobcats Playing at a Golf Course in Plano, Texas?

Texas man Bryan Hughes captured footage of a bobcat mother and her "kittens" playing and hanging out on a fairway at the Gleneagles Country Club in Plano last summer. I recently ran across it again--which is interesting to me, and here's why:

Early this morning about 3:00 am, I heard "meows" that sounded a bit more like a scream not too far away from my bedroom window. I popped out of bed to make sure that both of my domestic cats were inside and safe. After, I opened my shades to see if I might get a peek at what was making those oh-so-unusual sounds.

Unfortunately, I didn't see anything--or anyone. But it has stayed with me all day long--that sound. And on top of that, this isn't the first time I've heard that sound around my area.

Even though we see bobcats in the state of Texas, it is certainly unusual to see them hanging out in the open where people tend to populate--like on a golf course, for example.

And that's why running across this footage again today was rather surreal. Is the universe trying to tell me something? (Yes, it's saying DON'T ever go to bed without making sure your pets are inside.) Not that I need the reminder...but still.

Hughes had captured the footage from his backyard which backs up to the course. According to MySanAntonio.com, WFAA reported that "Hughes [...] said that he's seen wildlife before but nothing like the bobcats he spotted last week. He said he took videos of the bobcats to show his grandchildren. The video shows the kittens playing alongside their mother."

"They were playing so much they sometimes fell into the creek water. I was fortunate to see it, and it was awesome to film it."  ~Bryan Hughes to WFAA

Get our free mobile app

Although the man was lucky to catch the unusual sighting, Texas Parks and Wildlife says there is a reason for concern.

Rachel Richter with Texas Parks and Wildlife told WFAA that it was luck that Hughes was able to capture such a rare sighting. Some of our wildcat populations in Texas have been struggling as humans continue to expand into what were traditionally wild areas.

However, bobcats may have an advantage, Richter said, because they tend to be more "shy in nature," seem to be adaptable when conditions change, and tend to move about more at night. She stressed to WFAA that it's important we don't allow bobcats to become too comfortable around humans.

"We still want to ensure they have a healthy fear of people, and we don't want them making a den in someone's yard." ~Rachel Richter, TX Parks & Wildlife

Have you captured any rare wildlife sightings in East Texas you'd like to share? Please send those to tara.holley@townsquaremedia.com.