The Beastly Bobcat

Lynx rufus

Bobcat 101

Common Name: Bobcat, Lynx

Scientific Name: Lynx rufus

Diet: Carnivore

Life span in the wild: 10 to 12 years

Size: Head and body average 33 inches with a tiny tail about 5 inches long

Weight: 11 to 30 pounds

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fun facts

  • Female bobcats are territorial, but male cats’ ranges may overlap
  • Bobcats are predators that mainly target rabbits
  • Bobcats may have more than one den
  • They are most active during twilight (dawn and dusk)
  • Bobcats are able to jump as high as 12 feet
  • The top speed of a bobcat is 34 miles per hour
  • Predators of the bobcat include cougars and wolves. The kittens are preyed upon by coyotes and owls
  • Bobcats are good at climbing and can even swim, although (just like many other cats), they don’t care much for swimming.
  • Bobcats rarely attack people. They are skittish and spooked easily by humans, so if one attacks, it may suffer from rabies.

Kittens

Female bobcats find a secluded den to raise their young. They have between 1 and 6 kittens, which remain with the mother for up to 12 months. The mother cares for them, keeping them safe and fed, and helps teach them to hunt.

Cat Tracks

Bobcat tracks show 4 toes without claw marks, due to their retractable claws. The tracks can range in size from 1 to 3 inches. When walking the tracks are spaced roughly 13 inches apart. When running they are often up to 7 feet apart. Like all cats, the bobcat’s hind prints fall on top of its fore prints.