Bobcat

Lynx rufus

The bobcat is a solitary small cat widespread in North America. It uses forests, scrub, and desert edges, hunting most actively around dawn and dusk.

Key facts

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a carnivore animal classified as Mammal · Carnivora · Felidae.
Primary habitats are forest · desert, with a range across Nearctic.
Activity is crepuscular, sociality is solitary, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
The bobcat is a solitary small cat widespread in North America.
It occupies wooded areas, rocky cover, and dry shrublands where stalking cover is available.
Typical lifespan: 10-20 years

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

It occupies wooded areas, rocky cover, and dry shrublands where stalking cover is available. It can also use edge habitats near human settlement.

Body length is about 70-120 cm and weight about 6-18 kg. It has a short tail, tufted ears, spotted coat, and powerful legs for pouncing.

Mostly crepuscular, it patrols a solitary home range. It rests in cover such as rocks or thickets and closes on prey with a quiet stalk.

It is carnivorous, taking rabbits, rodents, birds, and similar prey. It relies more on ambush and short pursuits than on long chases.

Males and females meet briefly during breeding. The female raises the kittens in a den, where they learn hunting skills before dispersing.

Its status is listed as Least Concern. It is adaptable, though roads and fragmented habitat can restrict movement in some regions.