Bobcat or Wolf?

[radhead]

If you had to confront either of these two creatures, which one would you choose?

No wild animal would be a treat to come in contact with, even a racoon. But these two midsize animals seem just the right size where it's conceivable you could survive. I've never heard of anyone getting killed by a bobcat, although I'm sure it has happened. The same with wolves, because it's usually a "pack of wolves" that kills a guy, right?

Personally, I think I would take the bobcat. It seems just small enough that I could grab its head and restrain it or something. I don't know. Maybe I'm way underestimating it's size. But I'm better with cats than with dogs, which makes me think that I could "befriend" it or something stupid like that.

What do you think?

 

[Sketcher]

I'd learn my way around the bobcat and drive around with him in the back. I'd train him to intimidate cops and carjackers.

 

[Niels]

I'd be happy just to see a bobcat, even if it was attacking me. They're a lot like the lynx, my favorite wild animal. Bobcats and lynxes aren't very big... kind of like large housecats. In a fight, the cat wouldn't stand much of a chance.

Like you, I'd try to befriend it, or at least not cause it any harm.

That said, I think the mountain lion would be a better match for the wolf. They're bigger than the bobcat, and they often leap out of trees... catching their prey by surprise. If a mountain lion pounced on me, it would be more of a challenge. If it didn't snap my neck in the initial attack, I'd be able to take it, but it probably wouldn't be easy.

I'm not so sure about the lone wolf. Wolves are pack animals, but I still wouldn't want to mess with one. In fact, I stopped jogging around my neighborhood when I saw a timber wolf one night. (It was probably an escaped pet. Timber wolves aren't indigenous around here.)

 

[HoosierCanuck]

here kitty, kitty, kitty.

My first car was a Mercury Bobcat. lol

I'm more of a cat person too so I'd probably go with the bobcat. My coworker used to have a cat who they think had some bobcat characteristics. She was a little wild (her husband made her get rid of the cat/give it to another family).

I think wolves are beautiful but I wouldn't necessarily want to encounter one.

 

[GrimWolf]

I would be instant friends with the wolf...

Why would anyone be scared of a wolf like this... http://www.everythingwolf.com/gallery/showgalleryimage.aspx?GalleryID=126

They are beautiful animals, I just adore them.

 

[radhead]

Size comparisons:

Domestic Cat: 5 to 15 pounds

Bobcat: 25 to 35 pounds

Domestic Cat (fat, overfed): 30 to 50 pounds

Golden retriever: 65 to 75 pounds

Wolf: 50 to 130 pounds

Leopard: 65 to 155 pounds

Tiger: 400 to 700 pounds

It's pretty to clear to me now that I would choose a bobcat over a wolf. Although felines are probably more ferocious than canines of similar size. (No human could survive against a leopard.)

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

A wolf wouldn't be likely to attack unless it was cornered. I don't know about any large cat. I know feral cats and house cats happen to be a force to be reckoned with when they are ticked off, so, um, not interested in dealing with a larger species of cat.

 

[radhead]

Watch "Cujo" and then repeat what you just said.

 

[lunalinda]

Well of course I'd choose a bobcat because they're generally solitary. And if mountain lions are known to be easily intimidated if one makes a lot of noise and makes themselves "look" bigger, I'm sure it can be done with a bobcat. Besides, if you were facing off against a wolf, it's more than likely not going to be just one wolf to deal with. Wolves are pack-hunters and where there's one, there's several more, all with a most excellent sense of smell. I think my chances are best off with a bobcat.

 

[DailyBlessings]

Definitely the wolf. Wolves are fairly predictable, cats of any sort are not. They are social animals and more readily respond to social cues than would a bobcat.

Mind you, the bobcat is much smaller, and it would be a real treat to see one in the wild. But as far as confronting anything goes, I'll take the dog.

 

[sb573]

i'd pick the wolf since i know how to handle great danes bull dogs, huskies and rotties i think i could handle a wolf better than i could handle a bobcat

 

[jehovahjira]

BOBCAT OH YES SURELY YES!!!! why? i have 5 cats 4 dogs
see a wolf is under authority of the alpha m&f thus creating anywhere from 8-25 members called "packs" so if you decide to take one on be prepared to take on 8 or more!!! i'll stick with the bobcat

 

[lunalinda]

BOBCAT OH YES SURELY YES!!!! why? i have 5 cats 4 dogs
see a wolf is under authority of the alpha m&f thus creating anywhere from 8-25 members called "packs" so if you decide to take one on be prepared to take on 8 or more!!! i'll stick with the bobcat

Yep! That's exactly what I concluded too! Oh but that doesn't mean I'm not at all fascinated by wolves, though. Fascinating creatures, as is pretty much all of God's creation.

 

[TriptychR]

I'd go with the bobcat. Not only am I a little more confident of my survival chances should it attack me, but it seems a rarer sight than a wolf.

 

[JPPT1974]

Bobcat since wolves are more likely
To eat people!

 

[radhead]

I think I may change my mind and go with the lone wolf over the bobcat. It would be less likely to attack.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Watch "Cujo" and then repeat what you just said.

I've seen it and also read the book. 1) It is a work of fiction. 2) Cujo had rabies. 3) At work, I've handled dogs bigger and heavier than Saint Bernards. I've also been exposed to working with two wolves and a few large cats.

Either type of animal could without a doubt attack and cause a good bit of physical harm, but if I had to choose, I'd rather be around a wolf. I don't think one would attack me unless it was starving and I was hurt, or if it had rabies, or if I got too close to it. I think that even if there was a pack of them, it would not be likely for them to attack a healthy adult human that was clearly willing to put up a fight. Packs of wolves usually bring down animals that are very young and weak, very old and weak, sick, or injured.

On the other hand, I believe a cat would attack me simply for moving. I watched a discovery channel show on animal attacks and saw what a large wild cat can do to a person. One just about ripped a woman's face off and the only reason she survived was because a group of other people were around to throw rocks at the animal and help pull her away from it. They later found out that the same animal had killed a different biker earlier that day. The animal had decided that people were "easy prey".

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

For some reason, this entire time I have been thinking we were talking about mountain lions vs. wolves and not bob cats.

I still think I'd rather encounter a wolf but since a bobcat is not much heavier than a Cocker Spaniel, I think I could handle that better than if a wolf attacked me.

 

[Mrs. Luther073082]

Because I am bored, I decided to look for videos about bobcats and wolves.. I found some videos of bobcats and wolves hunting but did not link to those because they were a bit gruesome

Bobcats:

Bobcat vs. rattlesnake
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s1libdOkGcg

bobcat and a deer in some guy's backyard:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wJjlVP0GD6U

dumb sounding guys encounter a bobcat on a hike:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UhcoXXlYPFc

women encounter bobcat:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YKgLBm4aW6U&mode=related&search=

this has a bobcat in it but mostly it is of a cougar

http://youtube.com/watch?v=M8OLBPEiogE

Wolves


wolf "encounter" (obviously the wolves are in some sort of park)..

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EsDfT4o6cRw&mode=related&search=

wolves with people:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RaAfbYDkXk

This is cute (has puppies in it)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N7pOz7bL1ls



ummm.. I just felt like sharing this one

http://youtube.com/watch?v=X7VSB5b1xfU

 

[silentpoet]

Does not matter, bullets work just as well on both.