That is interesting. Seemed like it bothered them a bit and so I wish it was shorter. But I have to admit that the final picture is super cute!

It's super cool. Though the location has been kept a secret, it looks like it's near Cloquet. Also, they sure like sitting on the ice. I wonder what that does for them, or if the ice was just a good vantage point. Anyway, very cool video.

Mike

Really neat. I kept expecting to see one of them jump and grab the drone... It seems like it may have crossed their minds for a moment.

I agree, beautiful animals and cool footage! Actually I just started looking at drones... some of the smaller and latest drones are amazingly quiet.

That is amazingly cool. Bobcats are such pretty animals. I don't think the drone bothered them much at all. I think they were more curious than anything. And as the others said, that last shot of the three of them sitting on the log was the best.

Such beautiful creatures. That shot of the 3 of them on the log looking into the camera is priceless. Thanks so much for posting this.

MikeinMpls: "...it looks like it's near Cloquet...Mike"

That's the Bong bridge in the background. So it was along Superior's shoreline. I'm pretty sure I know the place, but since the author isn't sharing, neither am I.

inspector13: "

MikeinMpls: "...it looks like it's near Cloquet...Mike"

I'm pretty sure I know the place, but since the author isn't sharing, neither am I.

"

Glad the author doesn't want it posted on major social media websites. Bobcat trapping season opened on December 19th for Minnesota, it looks like it opened in Wisconsin on Oct 17.

inspector13: "

MikeinMpls: "...it looks like it's near Cloquet...Mike"

That's the Bong bridge in the background. So it was along Superior's shoreline. I'm pretty sure I know the place, but since the author isn't sharing, neither am I.

"

Gotcha. Thanks. The perspective threw me off.

Mike

I would love this video even more if they would’ve destroyed the drone at the end of it.

Portage99: "I would love this video even more if they would’ve destroyed the drone at the end of it."

Geez, really?

andym: "That is interesting. Seemed like it bothered them a bit and so I wish it was shorter. But I have to admit that the final picture is super cute!"

It bothered them? Again, geez.

Zwater: "

andym: "That is interesting. Seemed like it bothered them a bit and so I wish it was shorter. But I have to admit that the final picture is super cute!"

It bothered them? Again, geez."

Quote from the pilot of the drone who took the footage. This was posted on facebook.

"I would like to mention the ethics of filming wildlife with drones. As we all know, drones can potentially scare animals, especially if the drones are larger in size and get close to the creatures. After looking into the ethics of drone photography around wildlife, I realized I may have gotten too close to the bobcats for comfort, and looking back, I would not have gotten as close as I did. If the behavior of the animal changes, the drone is too close. While taking the video and photos of the cats, I attempted to maintain distance until one actually approached the drone. I will add that this wasn't a planned drone flight and I wasn't near the cats for more than a few minutes total."


Pilot of drone on facebook/bobcats

Thanks for posting that comment from the pilot. I will also say that I have at times cut off wildlife viewing (no drone, just canoe, eyes, and camera) due to impact on the animals and wish I had done so a bit sooner. So, I’m not saying anything about him that I wouldn’t apply to myself.

And I still love watching it.

Outstanding, rare imagery. I doubt he will ever match that again. Exceedingly lucky to get three bobcats like that. I think bobcat numbers are up in the arrowhead. I see tracks near my house fairly regularly, while they were rare a few years ago.

The typical, deep snow in the Lake Superior Highlands is hard on bobcats.

Portage99: "I would love this video even more if they would’ve destroyed the drone at the end of it."

Likewise sentiments. People and their gizmos are getting too arrogant and invasive. A lack of respect is what I've observed too often with people using these drones. I don't like 'em.

48 years going to the bwca, I've never seen one in the wild.

Thanks for sharing.

mjmkjun: "

Portage99: "I would love this video even more if they would’ve destroyed the drone at the end of it."

Likewise sentiments. People and their gizmos are getting too arrogant and invasive. A lack of respect is what I've observed too often with people using these drones. I don't like 'em. "

I agree that in the wrong hands this could be bad for the animals. But, I think this particular operator is very responsible. I also think the best scenario is to have the wildlife not aware of the drone.

If it had bothered or scared the cats they would have taken off. Appears to me they were rather intrigued in what it was as they sat on the limb and watched it. If they had run away and he chased them with the drone that would have been wrong, I see nothing wrong with what he did.

mutz: "If it had bothered or scared the cats they would have taken off. Appears to me they were rather intrigued in what it was as they sat on the limb and watched it. If they had run away and he chased them with the drone that would have been wrong, I see nothing wrong with what he did."

Neither do I in this case.

mutz: "If it had bothered or scared the cats they would have taken off. Appears to me they were rather intrigued in what it was as they sat on the limb and watched it. If they had run away and he chased them with the drone that would have been wrong, I see nothing wrong with what he did."

+1

Zwater: "

mutz: "If it had bothered or scared the cats they would have taken off. Appears to me they were rather intrigued in what it was as they sat on the limb and watched it. If they had run away and he chased them with the drone that would have been wrong, I see nothing wrong with what he did."

+1"

+2 (actually +3)