Bobcats
Bobcat Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Lynx
Species: Rufus
Scientific Name
Lynx rufus
Conservation status
Least Concern
LIFE SPAN
7-10 years in the wild
18-25 years in captivity
Body size
15-40 lbs
18-24 inches at the shoulder
Native habitat
While bobcats prefer woodlands, they don’t depend exclusively on the deep forest. A bobcat’s range is from the humid swamps of Florida to the desert lands of Texas, and even rugged mountain areas. Bobcats are native to North America from Southern Canada through most of the United States and into upper Mexico.
Diet
Bobcats are able to survive for long periods without food, but will eat heavily when prey is abundant. During the lean periods, bobcats will often prey on larger animals and store the food for later. Bobcats prefer to hunt and eat mammals weighing less than 13lbs, however they can take down much larger prey if needed.
Bewildering Bobcat Facts!
Bobcats have been around for more than 1.8 million years
Bobcats are the most abundant wildcat in North America
Bobcats are able to jump as high as 12 feet
Bobcats can run as fast ass 34 miles an hour
Bobcats are named for their black tipped, stubby tail
Bobcats are smaller than the average Canada Lynx, with which they share part of their range, but are about twice the size of a domestic cat. Adult bobcats range in weight from 14-40lbs, with females being smaller than males.
Bobcats are crepuscular, and are most active during twilight. They can travel up to 7 miles a night. However, they are confined to a well defined territory, that they mark with feces, urine and clawing the trees in the area.
Like most felines, the bobcat is usually solitary, but ranges often overlap. Males are more tolerant of others, while females rarely wander into others’ ranges.
Bobcats are able to survive for long periods without food, but will eat heavily when prey is abundant. During the lean periods, they’ll often prey on larger animals and store the food for later. They prefer mammals weighing less than 13lbs, however, they can take down much larger prey if needed.
Bobcats will generally begin breeding by their second summer, and most mating takes place during February and March. Bobcats will mate with several different mates, and females raise their young alone. They’ll generally have anywhere from one to six kittens, and they are born in April or May.
The average lifespan of a bobcat is around 7-10 years in the wild, and their main predators are mountain lions, coyotes, foxes, owls, wolves, and humans.
Our Bobcats
