The Secret Lives of Bobcats
The Bobcat is native to the entire USA, but is also found in southern Canada and northern Mexico. He’s a member of the Lynx family., displaying black-tufted ears, a gray to brown coat, and has a black-tipped stubby (bobbed) tail. Bobcats are the smallest of the Lynx family, about twice the size and weight of a housecat.
What do you look like?
Their coats vary in color from light tan to grayish-brown, depending on their habitat. The spots act as camouflage. Faces appear wide due to long hairs under the ears.
Eye color is yellow with black pupils; noses are pink.
How sharp are you?
Bobcats keen hearing, sharp vision, a great sense of smell, and are very good climbers. They are not fond of water, but can swim if necessary. They stalk their prey, and can pounce up to 10 feet to make a kill.
What’s for dinner…
Main courses feature rabbits and hares, but may include geese, chickens, insects, rodents, birds and even deer (mostly small fawns.)
Where you goin” ?
Territorial in nature, bobcats spend lots of time marking their territories with claw marks, urine and feces. They hunt a regular route during the twilight hours when active
When do we eat?
Bobcats feed early and late, being active from 3 hours before sunset to midnight.
They nap and arise before dawn and keep on the move until 3 hours after sunrise.
How’s your Sex Life?
Bobcats start to breed at age of 2. They pair together and travel from winter to early spring, mating several times. In the wild, they live 7 – 10 years, continuing to reproduce.
How’s your Mama?
Female Bobcats raise their young all alone. Gestation is 60-70 days; litters average 2-4 kittens. They are born blind, open their eyes by 10 days, and nurse for only 2 months.
By age 5 months, they travel and hunt with mom. By fall they are independent hunters, and soon venture out on their own.
Who’s your enemy?
Adult Bobcats have few predators other than humans. Kittens fall prey to coyotes, foxes, bears, eagles, owls and occasionally to male Bobcats. Beside hunters, the leading causes of death are autos, starvation, and other accidents.
Are Bobcats Endangered?
Despite heavy hunting bobcat populations have stabilized, with over a million animals in the USA. Unfortunately, urbanization has led to fragmentation of their habitat. This results in groups becoming isolated and inbred. Decreasing natural genetic diversity is not a good thing.
Can I keep one as a Pet?
Although kittens are very cute and cuddly, they soon grow up and revert to their wild heritage, often with very bad results. NO, they don’t make good pets.
What can we do to help?
Preserve open space and allow for movement between natural corridors. Educate the local residents about bobcats.
To see more of my Bobcat Paintings CLICK HERE
