Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Bobcats get their name from their short, bobbed tails. (Don DeBold/Wikimedia Commons)
The bobcat is a wild cat that is brownish with dark spots and stripes. It lives mostly in forested and mountainous areas throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Appearance:
-
Mottled reddish- or grayish-brown with dark spots and stripes
-
Short tufts on the ears
-
Short tail (5-6 inches long) with a black tip
-
Ruffs of hair that look like sideburns on the sides of the head
-
Grows to 25-40 inches long and weighs 25-35 pounds
Habitat:
-
Lives mostly in forested and mountainous areas but may also be found around swamps and farmland
-
Avoids highly developed areas or areas with dense human populations
-
Solitary
-
Mostly nocturnal, remaining hidden during the day
Range:
-
Recorded mostly in the northern and western portions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but likely ranges into other areas
-
Each individual has a home range that can extend 5-50 square miles, depending on how much food is available
-
Very territorial, marking its home range with urine and feces
-
A female’s home range rarely overlaps with other females’ home ranges, while a male’s territory may overlap with other females’ ranges
Feeding:
-
Eats nearly any bird, mammal, reptile or other small animal available
-
Mice, hares, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons and small white-tailed deer are all common prey
-
Uses its excellent hearing and vision to hunt during dusk and after nightfall
Predators:
-
Foxes, coyotes and large owls prey upon bobcat kittens
-
Humans are the only major threat to adult bobcats
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
-
Usually mates between January-March. This is the only time males and females interact. After mating, they return to their separate territories.
-
About 65 days after mating, females give birth to a litter of 2-6 kittens that she usually cares for by herself in a secluded den
-
Kittens venture from the den after about 5 weeks
-
By 9 months old, kittens begin to establish their own territories, although they may remain near their mother until the following spring
-
Females reach sexual maturity after one year, while males mature after 2 years
-
Can live as long as 15 years in the wild
Other Facts:
-
Also known as the red lynx or the bay lynx
-
The most widely distributed native cat in North America
-
Gets its name from its short bobbed tail
Sources and Additional Information:
Places:
