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Bobcat (Lynx rufus) 
The bobcat ranges in North America from southern Canada to southern Mexico,
and from the east to west coast in the United States. They can be found in a
wide variety of habitats, from the sub-tropics to semi-desert areas, swamps,
coniferous (pine) and deciduous (broad leafed) forests, and can be found
near human habitats as well. They occur below 3600 m in altitude.
Bobcats are closely related to the lynx;
however, it is half the size of the Canadian lynx. The bobcat can also be
distinguished from the lynx by the markings on its tail; whereas the lynx
has a black tip to its tail that goes completely around its tail, the
bobcat's had a white underside with the coloration and markings on the top
half. Bobcats also lack the hair on the soles of their feet that lynxes
have. The tufts on the ends of their ears tend to be smaller, and their ruff
not as prominent.
They can be a reddish brown to a light grey, with white underside and black spots on the legs, and black markings on the face. They have the distinctive ruff on the sides of their head and black tufts on the tips of their ears. Bobcats in the southern parts of their range tend to have more vibrant markings than those further north, and tend to be smaller. Both melanistic (black) and leucistic (white) bobcats have been reported, but the melanistic ones have only been found in Florida. Like many species of wild felids, the bobcat has black ears with one large white spot in the middle of the back of each ear, called eyespots. It serves to signal to other felines the cat's mood; the spots are clearly present when the ears are laid backward so it may signal aggression. It gets its name from its short nubby tail. Bobcats from the northern parts of their range tend to be larger on average than those further south. Larger individuals also tend to occur in open areas, wheras those from forested areas are smaller. The largest bobcat on record weighed 17.6 kg (38.8 lb).
The bobcat feeds primarily on small mammals like rodents and rabbits. They
also eat birds and deer carcasses. They are opportunistic feeders, however,
and will eat eggs, carrion, birds, frogs, reptiles, and just about anything
they can catch. Their diet depends region, season, and the availability of a
prey base. Males tend to take larger prey than the females, which reduces
competition. They have been persecuted for killing poultry. They are not
entirely dependent upon the snowshoe hair as the Canadian lynx is, although
they do prefer to feed on the hare. In times of the year when the population
of the hare is high, it makes up a large percentage of their diet. At other
times of the year, their diet is more varied.
The mating season is between February and June, but in many areas,
especially in the south, they have been known to breed year-round. The
estrus cycle lasts for 44 days; of these, the females remain receptive for
5-10 days. An average of 3-4 kittens are born after about 8 weeks. They
weigh from 280-340 grams at birth. Their eyes open at 9 days. Both parents
help to provide for the growing cubs, which start to venture at five weeks.
They are weaned at 12 weeks, and start to hunt with their mother at five
months. At nine months they leave to form their own territory. They reach
sexual maturity at 12 months for females, and 24 months for males. They can
live for 12-13 years in the wild, and up to 33 years in captivity.
Bobcats are solitary. Male's territories
(2-200 km²) are larger and overlap several of the smaller female's
territories (1-60 km²). Female's territories do not overlap with one
another. Males roam widely throughout their home range. The boundaries are
marked with urine, feces and scent gland secretions. Males typically breed
with many females, but females usually only breed with one male. Territory
boundaries are marked with urine, feces, and anal gland secretions. They can
be active in the day as well as the night, but tend to be nocturnal.
Population density depends on region. In the south, in a state like Florida,
500 animals per 100 km² are not uncommon. Farther north, in Minnesota, for
example, 4-5 per 100 km² is typical. It seems that a larger home range is
needed further north due to the general scarcity of food in the colder
climate.
Despite its smaller size, the bobcat is generally more aggressive than the lynx, and are relatively hard to tame.
Bobcats are vulnerable to predation by larger wild cats such as jaguars,
pumas, and even lynx. They are heavily hunted for their fur, and are the
most hunted of the cat species. Hunting of the bobcat is now regulated.
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