Bobcat Photographed at Mast Park in Santee

Photographer Andy King snapped some great shots of a bobcat just off the paved trail through Mast Park in Santee around 4 p.m. Thursday and published them on NBC 7.

Click here to see the photos

In one photo a bicyclist is seen passing within a stones throw of the bobcat.

Van Collinsworth, with Preserve Wild Santee, said the photographer was lucky to see the animal, and gave some insight into the sighting:

"Bobcats, Gray foxes and cougars are part of the local ecosystem, but they are shy creatures that prefer to avoid people in daylight. The fact that there are reported sightings from the public is indicative of open space linkages that are being more constrained by development and a larger human population that desires to use those same remaining natural areas for recreation." 

"People should not be alarmed by the reports, but take reasonable precautions of not leaving small pets unattended in or near natural lands, especially at night or early morning. For mountain lions, it is safer for people to always hike with a partner and keep their small children close. If confronted, never run - wait for the animal to leave on its own, and in most instances people can count themselves fortunate to have been offered a glimpse of these beautiful animals."

The last known public report of a wild cat in the Santee area was a mountain lion sighting received in December 2011 near West Hills High School that prompted putting the school into "secure mode." The Santee Sheriff's Department investigation found no sign of the animal.

Last year a bobcat was released into the wild near Ramona.

Protection of wild bobcats reached a new milestone with a recently signed California law that places serious restrictions on trapping wild bobcats in the state.

The Arizone Game and Fish Department has a page on their website about "living with bobcats," which describes their behavior:

"Bobcats are generally seen alone, but groups may consist of mating pairs, siblings, or mothers with kittens. Bobcats are most active around sunset and sunrise, and it is not uncommon to find one napping under a shrub in a brushy backyard. Individual bobcats will defend a territory of one to 12 square miles."

COMMENT: Have you had any wild cat encounters around town?