Point Reyes Wildlife: Hidden Camera Reveals Marin's Exotic Animals (PHOTOS)

Ever wonder what a bobcat looks like in the dark?

For nearly two decades, scientists have been monitoring the wildlife that lives in Marin's rustic haven of Point Reyes with hidden monitoring cameras, revealing an array of exotic creatures who call the area home (along with the oysters and the bird watchers and the old-time hippies, of course).

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The cameras were first established in 1995 to track animals returning to the area after the Vision Fire ravaged 13,000 acres and have been in use ever since. Everything from mountain lions to river otters have been the subject of photo ops.

The lush preserve, which has been compared to Yosemite and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park for its plethora of wildlife, celebrated its 50th anniversary this month.

Take a look at the images below, and visit the area yourself to catch some of the critters in person. Reason Number 4759205 why San Francisco is the best city in the world: a full-fledged national park just a handful of miles to our north.