Last week I rode my bike from Fairmont Park in Riverside to where the bike trail along the Santa Ana River ends in Norco and back. The end of the bike trail is at a nursery with lots of trees and plants. I stopped there to get a drink of my Gatorade and take a short breather. Looking east I saw a large cat and two smaller cats about 50 yards away exit the nursery thru an open gate that leads onto the bike trail. They stopped at the gate and the larger of the three cats stood there looking around. I didn't have my glasses on but the largest cat looked too large to be a domestic cat. After about 30 seconds the three crossed the bike trail and went into a small ravine on the other side. I have to say it scared the crap out of me.

 I stood there awhile wondering if it was safe to go back. I saw a rider approaching from the east and decided to wait to see if he was able to pass safely, which he did. (I know - real brave of me.) I took off east and went as fast as I could in that brief 50 yard stretch. Looking down I saw one of the small cats standing just off the bike path in the bushes.  I kept pedaling for all I was worth for the next couple of hundred yards before turning to look back.  I was safe.

bobcat

So today I did that ride again and didn't see the cats.  I stopped at the Nature Center there in Norco for a break and today there were employees there.  I asked them if they had seen any big cats in the area.  Three of the employees confirmed that they had seen a mother bobcat and two kittens in the area.  They assured me that bobcats don't usually attack humans.  Mountain lions yes.  Bobcats no.

So I can add bobcat to my list of wild life that I've seen in this area.  The list already contains squirrels, rabbits, snakes, a road runner, several coyotes, and two teenage gang members spray painting a wall.  Ah the joys of mountain bike riding.