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Felis rufus
Bobcats are born in litters ranging in size from one to seven kittens which are raised solely by the mother. Bobcats leave the den after about nine or ten months. When fully grown, they weight between 15 and 35 lbs, with males being larger than females, and live solitary lives. Individual ranges of bobcats may be as small as 1/4 of a square mile or as large as 25 square miles, depending on the number of individuals and prey in an area. The territories of males overlap with those of several females, allowing the male to mate with more than one. In areas of dense populations, territories of different males may overlap as well.
Bobcats are found from southern Canada to northern Mexico, and are the most common small cats in North America. These cats inhabit scrub, swamps, foothills and dense forests below 8,000 ft of elevation. The bobcat's spotted and striped coat aids in camouflage in this wide range of environments, and the tufted ears are thought to aid in hearing small prey. The common name bobcats refers to the tell tale stubby tail, and species name rufus refers to the reddish base color of the coat. Opportunistic feeders, a bobcat's prey ranges from mice, rabbits, and insects to carrion and even prey as large as deer.
BOBCATS AND LYNX
Although very similar in both appearance and range, bobcats an lynx vary in a few key adaptations which are related to environment. While bobcats live in lowlands, the lynx is found in colder northern environments and higher altitudes. Because of this, both cats have different coat colors, legs and tail size, and coat density. The bobcat has shorter legs and a spotted coat for camouflage and movement in dense woodlands, while the Lynx has a plain brownish coat whish aids in camouflage in mossy coniferous forests and longer legs for moving through snow. The lynx also has fur protecting its paw pads due to the colder northern climates, and a shorter tail to conserve heat. Hearing is also thought to be more important in locating prey for the lynx, and this may be the reason for it's longer ear tufts.
BOBCATS AND MAN
Because they are so common, interactions between humans and bobcats are common in North America. Unlike the larger cat of North America, the cougar, bobcats have adapted well to human settlement of wilderness. Although common, bobcats have been hunted in the past, and their conservation status is under debate, with some believing the cats have adapted well to hunting by humans, and others believing the population may be adversely affected. Despite this controversy, the bobcat is a protected species. Although the cats tend to avoid humans, those living near bobcat ranges are advised to take measure to avoid having small pets attacked by bobcats and discourage bobcats from entering their property in order to avoid conflict.
Sources:
Project
Wildlife
"Encyclopedia
of Mammals" ed. by Dr David Macdonald. Andromeda Press, New York NY. 1995.
British
Columbia Wildlife
