iStockphoto / Pamela Werrell
Bobcats are relatively common in Florida despite most Floridians never seeing them. There are found in all 67 counties of Florida but prefer dense forests with thick cover to hunt in peace and while it’s not unheard of to see them venture into a metropolis it’s not common.
That said, a Florida Man by the name of Kevin Mario was lounging by the pool at his home in Naples when a large bobcat sauntered up and stared him down like he owned the place. Kevin managed to remain impressively calm and still while filming the bobcat walk past him and over to the jacuzzi, all while keeping eyes on each other the entire time.
The clip ends before we see where the bobcat ran off to but tensions are high as demeanors remain cool:
Welcome to Florida…where a bobcat walks right in front of you and you casually continue on with your pool day. Credit: @WINKNews viewer Kevin Mario in Naples #Florida pic.twitter.com/lZvBpJDkSl
— Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWX) May 8, 2024
Interestingly, bobcats don’t have a very large range in suburban/urban areas. Their range might only be 1-2 miles according to an article from my hometown Herald Tribune. That article goes on to claim that bobcats in Florida grow to only around 30 pounds and stand 1.5′ tall at the shoulders so while this Florida bobcat looks quite thin it’s actually on the cusp of fully grown.
The #1 piece of advice to keep in mind during a Florida bobcat encounter (or with a Florida panther) is to remain calm. Do not run. Try and make yourself look large if necessary but in this instance the Naples resident played it perfectly by remaining still so as not to spook or provoke the bobcat.