2023 Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest
Patrick T. Isakson
Guidebooks describe the bobcat as a large-footed cat with short ear tufts and short “sideburns.”
They add that their tracks are round and large, much like a domestic dog, but without the claw marks.
What they don’t say outright: “Good luck spying one in the wild.”
Lisa Buchweitz of Langdon did just that and had only seconds on a photo outing in the Pembina Hills to take the winning photograph for the 2023 Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest.
She nailed it.
This animal, furtive by nature, was on her bucket list of wild photo subjects, which she can now check off her list.
Bobcats in North Dakota, biologists tell us, weigh between 15 and 25 pounds, with males being slightly larger than females.
When standing, bobcats measure about 19 to 23 inches at the shoulder. Overall body length, including the short tail, is about 34 inches.
In 1977, North Dakota lawmakers listed the bobcat as a furbearer, allowing the Game and Fish Department to manage this species.
2023 Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest Winners
Overall Winner
Photographer
Lisa Buchweitz, Langdon
Pictured
Bobcat (Photo taken in Pembina County )
Game Winner
Photographer
Kevin Hice, Washburn
Pictured
Sharp-tailed Grouse (Photo taken in McKenzie County)
Game Runner-up
Photographer
Dean Rummel, Dickinson
Pictured
Elk (Photo taken near Medora )
Game Runner-up
Photographer
Dale Rehder, West Fargo
Pictured
Pronghorn (Photo taken in Theodore Roosevelt National Park)
Game Runner-up
Photographer
Stewart Opland, Williston
Pictured
Bighorn Sheep (Photo taken in Theodore Roosevelt National Park)
Game Runner-up
Photographer
DeVane Webster, Bismarck
Pictured
Hungarian Partridge (Photo taken near Center)
Game Runner-up
Photographer
Nels Kilpela, Dickinson
Pictured
Mule Deer (Photo taken near Medora)
Game Runner-up
Photographer
Tom Krebs, Regent
Pictured
Whitetail Fawn (Photo taken in Hettinger County)
Game Runner-up
Photographer
Kevin Hice, Washburn
Pictured
Red Fox (Photo taken in Burleigh County)
Game Runner-up
Photographer
Mike Saunders, Fargo
Pictured
Bufflehead (Photo taken near Fargo)
Nongame Winner
Photographer
Dean Rummel, Dickinson
Pictured
Porcupine (Photo taken near Medora)
Nongame Runner-up
Photographer
Xinyi Li, Not provided
Pictured
American White Pelican
Nongame Runner-up
Photographer
Daniel Mason, Fargo
Pictured
Long-eared Owl (Photo taken near Fargo)
Nongame Runner-up
Photographer
Michael Zimmerman, Bismarck
Pictured
Baltimore Oriole (Photo taken in Grant County)
Nongame Runner-up
Photographer
Lisa Buchweitz, Langdon
Pictured
Killdeer Chick (Photo taken in Cavalier County)
Nongame Runner-up
Photographer
Dayna Blauer, Dickinson
Pictured
Swainson’s Hawk (Photo taken near Dickinson)
Nongame Runner-up
Photographer
Beverly Fiferlick, Jamestown
Pictured
Wilson’s Phalarope (Photo taken near Jamestown)
Nongame Runner-up
Photographer
Tangula Unruh, Bismarck
Pictured
White-faced Ibis (Photo taken at Long Lake NWR)
Nongame Runner-up
Photographer
Tom Krebs, Regent
Pictured
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Photo taken in Hettinger County)
Plants and Insects Winner
Photographer
Nels Kilpela, Dickinson
Pictured
Frozen Dragonfly (Photo taken near Medora)
Plants and Insects Runner-up
Photographer
Desariah Barrett, Williston
Pictured
Pasque Flower Seed Head (Photo taken in Williams County)
Plants and Insects Runner-up
Photographer
Nancy Secrest, Hettinger
Pictured
Spiderwort (Photo taken in Hettinger County)
Plants and Insects Runner-up
Photographer
David Leingang, Bismarck
Pictured
Artist’s Conk (Photo taken at Cross Ranch State Park)
Plants and Insects Runner-up
Photographer
Sharon Watson, Buxton
Pictured
Banded Garden Spider (Photo taken near Buxton)
Plants and Insects Runner-up
Photographer
Laurine Ries, Buffalo
Pictured
Painted Lady Butterfly (Photo taken near Buffalo)
Plants and Insects Runner-up
Photographer
Mike Rabenberg, Bismarck
Pictured
Melissa Blue on Hoary Vervain (Photo taken at Long Lake NWR)
Plants and Insects Runner-up
Photographer
Mike Rabenberg, Bismarck
Pictured
Long-horned Bees on Flodman’s Thistle (Photo taken at Sweet Briar)
Plants and Insects Runner-up
Photographer
Derrick Schiff, Not provided
Pictured
Eight-spotted Forester Moth (Photo taken near Mandan)