Doorbell Camera Captures Rare Bobcat and Coyote Interaction in Texas
In a rare sighting, a Carrollton, Texas resident caught a bobcat and a coyote seemingly engaged in a playful chase early Sunday morning.
Between 7:15 and 7:30 a.m., Melissa Smith’s doorbell camera recorded the unexpected interaction outside her home, offering a glimpse of the elusive creatures behaving in an unusual way.
While Smith frequently spots bobcats and coyotes on her camera, drawn by the bushes in her front yard, she had never seen the two animals together before. “At first, I was worried the coyote might be hunting the bobcat,” Smith told Chron.
“But then I saw the bobcat following the coyote and thought maybe they were hunting the same prey.” Her neighborhood is home to rabbits and squirrels, common targets for both predators.
Smith shared the footage with Chris Jackson, a nature photographer and blogger for DFW Urban Wildlife, who suggested the animals were simply playing. “What we have here is a coyote and bobcat playing chase just outside the home’s front door,” Jackson wrote on Facebook.
He explained that while coyotes are known for cross-species interactions, such behavior is less common among adult bobcats. However, the bobcat in the video appeared to be a juvenile, possibly making it more open to playful behavior.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, bobcats are solitary nocturnal hunters, while coyotes are more social and often hunt alone or in pairs. The two species are natural competitors, sharing prey like rabbits and squirrels, and are generally considered enemies.
Despite potential concerns, Smith embraces the wildlife around her. “I know having coyotes and bobcats in the area makes some people uneasy, but I love it and have never felt threatened by them,” she said. Smith does, however, take precautions, such as making noise to scare them off when walking her dog at night.
The interaction offers a rare glimpse into the dynamic behaviors of these apex predators, showcasing the surprising ways wildlife adapts in urban and suburban settings.
