Lynx rufus
Bobcat
Geographic Range
Bobcats are distributed throughout North America, extending their range from British
Columbia and Nova Scotia, in Canada, to southern Mexico. Bobcats occur more
frequently in the southern half of North America and are less common in the eastern and
Midwestern states. Although populations are less dense in the eastern states, bobcats can
be found in the coastal states such as Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts,
New Jersey, Georgia, and Florida. Currently, bobcat range is expanding to the north in
Canada, due to habitat fragmentation (IUCN 1996). Distribution in Wisconsin is
restricted to the northern half of the state.
Physical Characteristics
Head and body 25-30 in. (63-76 cm); tail 5 in. (127mm); weight 15-35 pounds (6.7-15.7
kg).
The bobcat’s common name was derived from its 6 inch tail which is black only on top at
the tip and tipped white at the very end of the tail. On its face the bobcat has a tuft of
facial fur around the cheek area and a tuft of hair on the ear’s tips, which makes them
look pointed. Its coat ranges from a reddish-brown spotted with dark spots and gray
overtones to a brownish-gray, with spots along the backbone that appear to be a dorsal
stripe. In winter the gray overtones increase and their summer coats can have a reddish
tinge, as indicated by their species name, rufus, which is Latin for red (Chapman 1982).
The bobcat has long legs and runs in excess of 15 mph, which helps it catch its prey.
The Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis) closely resembles the bobcat, but has larger paws,
which are adapted to its snowy habitat. The fur is reddish-brown to grey, the hairs being
tipped with white, producing a frosted appearance. It also has tufts of hair protruding
from the ends of the ears, the lynx tufts are longer and can reach up to 1.5 inches long.
The lynx’s legs are longer than those of the bobcat (IUCN 1996).
Natural History
Food Habits
The bobcat is a generalist, feeding on any prey available including insects, fish, birds, and
primarily mammals (squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, rodents, birds, opossum, shrews, and
small deer). Cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus) are the staple prey of bobcats, but bobcats
have been reported to increase their reliance on small white-tailed deer (Odocoileus
virginianus) during the winter months in areas where they are prevalent. Their hunting
strategies are based on a stalk and pounce approach (Rollings 1945).
Reproduction
Mating peaks in February, but the season can last from early January through June, with
litters born in late April or early May. After a 63 day gestation period, 2-3 kittens are
born, with only 1 litter per year produced (Bailey 1974). The young are furred and blind
at birth and will nurse from their mother for the following two months. From about five
months on, the mother will teach her kittens how to hunt on their own. After eight to
eleven months the young are forced from their mother’s home range. Female bobcats are
capable of breeding at 1 year of age, whereas males are not sexually mature until 2 years
of age (Crowe 1975).
Behavior
The bobcat is crepuscular and is most active three hours before sunset to midnight and
one hour before sunset to three hours afterwards. Daytime movements are rare except
during winter months when food is scarce. Bobcats are highly territorial and solitary.
Adults of each sex maintain and defend their extensive home range. Male home ranges
are larger than female home ranges and size depends on quality of habitats and prey
availability (Chapman 1982). For example, males may expand their boundaries during
the breeding season in order to maximize the opportunities to find a mate. Females on
the other hand may use less of their home range, while rearing kittens because of the need
to tend to her kittens. They will mark their area with urine, feces, scent from anal glands
and scrapes, which are used as markers to keep other bobcats away (Bailey 1974).
Bobcats of the same sex do not share the same home range, although there is some
overlap in range boundaries. Males do allow females to use their home ranges and viceversa. Mating is the only time that bobcats are together (Boyle 1987).
Habitat
Bobcats can adapt to a wide variety of habitats. Preferred habitats include mixed
hardwood swamps, pine flatwoods, upland hardwood forests, hardwood hemlocks, old
fields, and farmlands interspersed with heavily wooded forests. Common den sites
include fallen trees, hollow logs, thickets, caves, and rock piles (Boyle 1987).
Conservation
The bobcat population is currently stable with and estimated 700,000-1,500,000 bobcats
in the United States today. It is legal to hunt and trap bobcats in the United States in
areas where the population is stable, but is prohibited in 11 of the states. Although
hunting and trapping contribute loss in the populations, habitat destruction has a more
severe effect. Therefore, maintaining and managing forest habitats are important
conservation measures for bobcats. Because bobcats are highly territorial and solitary,
land needs to be distributed and maintained in a way that multiple bobcats can occupy
large separate home ranges (IUCN 1996).
References
Bailey, Theodore N. 1974. Social organization in a bobcat population.
Journal of Wildlife Management. 38(3): 435-446.
Boyle, Katherine A. 1987. Habitat suitability index models: bobcat.
Biol. Rep. 82 (10.147). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the
Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 16 p.
Chapman, Joseph A.; Feldhamer, George A., eds. 1982. Wild mammals of
North America. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
1147 p.
Crowe, Douglas M. 1975. Aspects of ageing, growth, and reproduction of
bobcats from Wyoming. Journal of Mammalogy. 56(1): 177-198.
IUCN-THE World Conservation Union. 1996. “Species Survival Commission:
IUCN Cat Specialist Group: Lynx rufus” (Online), Avaialable
http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/sp-accts.htm. (October 27,2003).
Rollings, Clair T. 1945. Habits, foods and parasites of the bobcat in
Minnesota. Journal of Wildlife Management. 9(2): 131-145.
Reference written by Mindy Berendes , Biology 378 student. Edited by Christopher
Yahnke.
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