The Bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a North American
mammal of the cat family, Felidae. With twelve recognized
subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico,
including most of the continental United States. The Bobcat is an
adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as well as
semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges and swampland environments.
It persists in much of its original range and populations are
healthy.
With a gray to brown coat, whiskered face,
and black-tufted ears, the Bobcat resembles the other species of
the mid-sized Lynx genus. It is smaller than the Canada Lynx, with
which it shares parts of its range, but is about twice as large as
the domestic cat. It has distinctive black bars on its forelegs and
a black-tipped, stubby tail, from which it derives its
name.
Though the Bobcat prefers rabbits and hares,
it will hunt anything from insects and small rodents to deer. Prey
selection depends on location and habitat, season, and abundance.
Like most cats, the bobcat is territorial and largely solitary,
although there is some overlap in home ranges. It uses several
methods to mark its territorial boundaries, including claw marks
and deposits of urine or feces. The Bobcat breeds from winter into
spring and has a gestation period of about two months.
This cache has been placed
with permission for the CREW Trust and the South Florida Water
Management District