The Bobcat
The Bobcat comes from the Family: Felidae Genus: Lynx Species: L. rufus and is a North American mammal belonging to the cat family. Its home range within the Americas spreads from the region of southern Canada and goes to south to include northern Mexico.
Debate and controversy lingered as to whether the bobcat is actually related to the lynx and the academics finally agreed the bobcat is related to the lynx family. There are now 12 bobcat sub species currently recognized. Again, this is another animal that supposedly entered the Americas by crossing the Lering land bridge. This bobcat has been closely linked to the Eurasian lynx.
The bobcat is a predatory carnivore that preys upon primarily hares and rabbits, it will also eat insects small rodents and deer. Obviously the selection of prey depends on the habitat’s location , season and abundance. Like most cats – the bobcat is territorial and rather solitary, even though there is some overlapping of individual’s home range.
Although the bobcat has been extensively hunted by humans, both for sport and pelt – its population remains quite resilient. The bobcat hunts primarily from before dawn until 3 hours after sunrise and from the 3 hours preceding sunset.
The bobcat is an opportunistic predator and hunts many varied sized animals. Rodents, rabbits, hares, squirrels, birds and fish. When rabbits and hares are scarce, the bobcat will prey upon cotton rats. The bobcat has been known to stalk deer, especially fawns and what it cannot consume in one sitting, the bobcat will bury the remains of the carcass under snow or leaves, returning to it several times to feed whilst the carcass is still viable as a food source. Bobcats are also known to scavenge on the remains of dead animals.
The bobcat is also an occasional hunter of livestock and poultry and has been known to prey upon goats, sheep and small dogs and cats. This obviously does not endear the bobcat to farmers. The bobcat is a very adaptable creature – it can go for long periods without food but, it will eat heavily when food is abundant. The bobcat prefers woodlands both deciduous and coniferous or mixed. Wherever a food source is abundant, a bobcat will linger until it has consumed the food source and then move on in search of more prey – be they wild or domestic animals.
As far as conservation is concerned – the bobcat is, at this point in time, not deemed threatened with extinction, but there is every indication that hunting and trading should be very closely monitored.
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