Bobcat

Also known as
Wildcat, bay lynx, catamount, cat o' the mountain, barred bobcat, pallid bobcat, red lynx, cat lynx.
What is the scientific name?
Lynx rufus (also known as Felis rufus)
Why is it called a "bobcat?"
This refers to the shortened or "bobbed" tail. It has also been associated with the bobcat's running style, somewhat like a rabbit's, in which it "bobs" up and down (Young 1958).
Where are they located? How many subspecies are there?
From coast to coast within the United States, but its actual distribution is scattered and uneven. It is more frequently found in the Western States, although it is absent from central California, and is rare or absent from most of the central Midwest (Whitaker 1980). There are 12 recognized subspecies of bobcats. In Oregon we have L.r. fasciatus generally west of the Cascades and L.r. pallescens generally east of the Cascades. The other subspecies are: L.r. baileyi, L.r. californicus, L.r. escuinapae, L.r. floridanus, L.r. gigas, L.r. oaxacensis, L.r. peninsularis, L.r. rufus, L.r. superiorensis, and L.r. texensis (Hall 1981).
Where do they live?
Bobcats are generally found at higher elevations in forested and rocky terrain. They are also found in swamps, farmlands and brushy canyons (Whitaker 1980; Young 1958).
What do they look like?
The overall color is grayish, tannish or reddish, covered with black spots. The color is more intense along the back and fading on the sides. The tip of the tail is black above and whitish below. Hair on the sides of the face is long and resembles extended sideburns. The ears have small tufts, are blackish and have white spots near the tips.
How big are they?
Males range in size from 18 to 50 inches and females between 22 and 43 inches, depending on location. Males range between 16 to 57 pounds, females between 8 and 33 pounds (McCord and Cardoza 1982).
How long do they live?
Uncertain. They have lived up to 35 years in captivity (Nowak 1991).
What do they eat?
Cottontail rabbits are the principle prey, but they also eat other mammals, insects, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. The percentage of each class of animals eaten depends on location and season. One study of bobcats on the Oregon coast found the following percentages: 28.6% Brush rabbits, 9.3% Deer mice, 8.4% Oregon voles, 7.9% Townsend voles, 7% Dusky-footed woodrats, 5.3% Snowshoe hares, 5.3% Mountain beavers, 5.3% large sea birds, 4.4% Townsend chipmunks, 4.0 Pacific jumping mice, 3.1% Chickarees, 3.1% small birds, 2.2% shrews, 1.8% California ground squirrels, .9% beetles, and the remaining 2% various other mammals (Maser 1981).

Interesting notes: Adult bobcats have few natural enemies but they still find themselves in a "cat eat cat" world. The mountain lion is its main, but rare, persecutor. coyotes are also sometimes successful at preying on bobcats and, similar to domestic animal relationships, have been observed to "tree" them. The following story illustrates this:

One morning while a wolf trapper was riding his trap-line located in northwestern New Mexico he heard two coyotes barking vigorously in a canyon. The occurrence was so unusual in daytime that he dismounted and carefully stalked the hunters. He beheld an animated scene... coyotes had treed a bobcat, who was just out of reach on a slender limb. They were barking just like dogs and leaping high, trying to reach the cat and pull him out. The coyotes were so engrossed in the attack that they lost their usual caution and Mr. Gimson observed them for several minutes before finally shooting them and the cat (Young, 1958).

Well, it was a good story up until the shooting. It is interesting that so many of the older literature concerning wildlife is filled with anecdotes like the above. Someone coming upon an interesting wildlife scene, only to end it with the blast of a bullet. Today most predators like bobcats are protected to some degree by having "game" status.

Last updated April 16, 2006
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Copyright 2006, by Jim Rible