Bobcat

[Revenge]

Bobcats

Camouflaged Cat: The fur of the bobcat, named for its short stubby tail, is tawny in color. Spots are almost always present to a greater or lesser extent, and can be splattered all over the body or just on the underside creating an excellent camouflage. Rufflike fur frames the face.

An Opportunistic Hunter: The bobcat mainly hunts cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares, but isn't so finicky as to turn up its nose at squirrels, foxes, rodents, deer and carrion. In typical cat fashion, the bobcat stalks prey and pounces when the opportunity is right. The animal wastes no time in downing small animals, but will store larger kills for another time.

Varied Habitat: Bobcats can be found in a variety of habitats including desert, mixed woodland and conifer forests. Territories vary in size depending on season and prey distribution, but being highly territorial, the bobcat marks its boundaries with urine, feces and gland scent.

DID YOU KNOW?

Call of the Wild: The calls of a bobcat can sound strikingly similar to that of a domestic cat, although piercing screams and a coughing bark are uniquely its own.

[/blockquote]

[Revenge]

The Bobcat

Bobcat Profile
Bobcats are elusive and nocturnal, so they are rarely spotted by humans. Although they are seldom seen, they roam throughout much of North America and adapt well to such diverse habitats as forests, swamps, deserts, and even suburban areas.

Bobcats, sometimes called wildcats, are roughly twice as big as the average housecat. They have long legs, large paws, and tufted ears similar to those of their larger relative, the Canada lynx. Most bobcats are brown or brownish red with a white underbelly and short, black-tipped tail. The cat is named for its tail, which appears to be cut or "bobbed."

Fierce hunters, bobcats can kill prey much bigger than themselves, but usually eat rabbits, birds, mice, squirrels, and other smaller game. The bobcat hunts by stealth, but delivers a deathblow with a leaping pounce that can cover 10 feet (3 meters).

Bobcats are solitary animals. Females choose a secluded den to raise a litter of one to six young kittens, which will remain with their mother for 9 to 12 months. During this time they will learn to hunt before setting out on their own.

In some areas, bobcats are still trapped for their soft, spotted fur. North American populations are believed to be quite large, with perhaps as many as one million cats in the United States alone.

Bobcat Range (In the yellow)

Fast Facts

Type: Mammal
Diet: Carnivore
Average lifespan in the wild: 10 to 12 years
Size: Head and body, 26 to 41 in (66 to 104 cm); Tail, 4 to 7 in (10 to 18 cm)
Weight: 11 to 30 lbs (5 to 14 kg)
Did you know? The bobcat is the most abundant wildcat in the U.S. and has the greatest range of all native North American cats.

Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man

[Revenge]

Credit:

Information © AnimalPlanet.com
Information & Pictures © NationalGeographic.com