BobcatBy Riley Morales

Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Lynx Species: Rufus Scientific name: Lynx rufus

The bobcat is closely related to the lynx, in fact the lynx and bobcat are cousins, and they share similar traits, such as behavior and size.

Physical Characteristics Length: male, 2.5-

4.1 feet; female, 2.5-3.1 feet.

Weight: male, 14.1-40.3 pounds; female, 9-33.7 pounds.

Tail: 5-6.5 inches.

Physical Characteristics Long legs, larger feet. Large ears, with short

black tufts on the tips. Tawny brown coat with

dark streaks and/or spots and lighter underbelly.

Bobbed tail, with black tip, from which it is named after.

Coat is soft, short, and dense, built for varying weather.

Distribution The bobcat distribution

goes from British Columbia eastward to Canada and Nova Scotia, and south throughout the US and reaches into Mexico.

No exact population number. Estimated to be about one million bobcats in the US alone.

Habitat Very adaptable, can live

almost anywhere, any climate, any terrain.

Forests, mountainous areas, semi-deserts, brush land, rocky hillsides and swamps.

Mainly just needs cover and concealment from inclement weather and other animals/predators.

Conservation Status Least concern. Very populous animal, population

numbers observed to have been increasing.

Reproductive Characteristics Males may fight one

another for a mate. Males mature by their

second year, females as early as their first.

Male and females will generally have more than one mate.

Female produces about 2-6 kittens per litter, and 2 litters per year.

Parental Care Kittens will start to

travel around with their mother at 3 months old.

They stay dependent upon their mother until about 7 months old.

The male offers no parental care to its litter.

Longevity and Mortality 6-14 years in the wild Maximum: 32 years and

four months in captivity, 16 years in the wild.

In the wild, most bobcats die from its predators, natural causes, old age, or hunting.

In captivity, bobcats usually die from sickness or old age.

Seasonal Patterns Bobcats do not

hibernate or undergo torpor.

Bobcats tend to migrate closer to lowland evergreen forests during the winter.

DietRabbitsBirdsSmall deerRodentsReptilesArthropodsPlants

Bobcat Diet

RodentsOther MammalsBirdsReptilesArthropodsPlants

Predator RelationshipsPrimary predators: Other bobcats Cougars Grey wolves Coyotes Humans Bobcats are one of the

most popularly hunted and traded animals.

Trade of their fur is under good management.

Human Relationships Zoos Research Hunting Bobcat fur is used as

clothing or trophies or mounts.

Hunting of the bobcat is managed well to ensure there is no threat to their population.

Fun Facts The bobcat only lives

in North America. The bobcat’s

growl/roar is often mistaken for one of a lion.

Bobcats are excellent swimmers.

They can leap 10 feet to get to their prey.

Works CitedWorks Cited

Arkive. Wildscreen, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013. <http://arkive.org/bobcat/ynx-rufus/>.Forsyth, Adrian. Mammals Of North America: Temperate And Arctic Regions \.

Willowdale: Firefly Books, 1999. Print. National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2013.

<http://animals.nationalgeograpic.com/animals/mammals/bobcat/>.