Bobcat
Everyone has probably either had a housecat, or at least
known someone who does. When people think of the wild relatives
of the neighborhood today, many probably think of cheetahs,
lions, tigers and other big cats in Africa. But we have our own
wild feline right here in Oklahoma – the bobcat.
Lynx rufus is a small cat with slight ear tufts. Its back, sides
and upper tail is pale to reddish brown with black spots, while
the lower part of its body is white with dark spots.
Bobcats have a range that stretches from southern Canada to
northern Mexico, and are found throughout the continental United
States except in the upper Midwest and parts of New England.
Bobcats frequent habitat types ranging from coniferous and mixed
forests to desert scrublands to Cypress swamps.
Just like their larger African cousins, bobcats mark their
territory with urine. A male’s home range is generally two to
three times larger than that of the female’s, and it includes
the ranges of several females while partially overlapping the
ranges of other males. Females are much more exclusive about
their territory, and their ranges do not overlap.
Bobcats generally breed in January or February, but have been
known to reproduce year-round, especially when food is
plentiful. Once the female has mated, she will seek out a fallen
log or a rock overhang for a den. She will give birth two months
later to two to five kittens. However, younger females generally
produce smaller litters than older, maturer females. The kittens
are weaned after two months but stay with their mother until
they are around a year old and are about half-grown.
Bobcats are thought to live for around 12 years in the wild and
can weigh more than 25 pounds as mature adults. Cats in the
North and animals in more open areas are usually larger than
those that live in the forests or in the southern reaches of
their range.
While bobcats can be active throughout the day or night, they
are primarily crepuscular, meaning their peak hours of activity
are around dusk and dawn. Although small in stature, bobcats are
very effective predators, even of large ungulates such as deer,
especially fawns or yearlings. More often, though, bobcats prey
on rabbits and other rodents, as well as wild turkeys and other
ground-nesting birds. Male bobcats are generally larger than
females, and are more likely to take down larger prey.
Bobcats have been the most heavily harvested and traded cat
species in the past two decades, and interest in bobcat pelts
has increased in recent years due to increased demand from
furriers in China and Russia. Through effective management and
responsible harvesting, the bobcat population is very healthy in
Oklahoma, and sportsmen have ample opportunities to hunt or trap
cats.
For those who are fortunate enough to have seen one of
Oklahoma’s wild felines, it is a special occurrence. These cats
are very elusive and hard to spot, but they are spectacular to
watch when you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one!