Pause: Bobcat. When mountain lions are around, bobcats know their place and retain the humility of a meso-predator. But when mountain lions and wolves are exterminated by humans, then bobcats and coyotes become the reigning cats and dogs. It’s called meso-predator release, and it’s a sign that the food web has lost its apex carnivores. I chose to show this bobcat carefully sensing its environment, pausing to assess the situation before sipping from the trickle of water it has approached. Prudence pays.