Fun Facts!

There are many interesting tales of the bobcat, both in the folklore of Native American tribes and in the history of European settlers to North America.
 

Bobcat

Lynx rufus

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

A bobcat has a gray to brown coat, black tufted ears, a whiskered face and black bars on its forelegs. Its black-tipped, stubby tail looks like it’s been ‘bobbed,’ which is how the bobcat got its common name. Its padded feet have four toes, but since its claws retract the claw marks aren’t often seen in footprints. It is one of the small cats, and is about twice as large as a typical house cat.

HABITAT

Twelve different bobcat subspecies can be found from southern Canada throughout most of the continental United States into Northern Mexico. They are adaptable and they can be found in wooded areas, semi-arid deserts, even swamplands. They even adapt well to urban fringe areas and have been seen near some Nebraska small towns.

DIET IN THE WILD

This predator is a carnivore - its diet consists of primarily of hares and rodents. They will even attack a small deer if food is scarce.

BEHAVIOR

The bobcat is territorial. It will mark out its homestead with claw marks and its own distinctive remains. Bobcats rarely make a sound.

STATUS IN THE WILD / CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Conservationists are keeping a close watch on bobcat populations because of extensive hunting for sport and for bobcat fur. Bobcats don’t appear on endangered lists…yet.There are currently no conservation efforts in place.

LIFE SPAN

They can live between 6-8 years, but have been known to live up to 16 years. In captivity, some are known to have lived as long as 32 years.