Named for its short, "bobbed" tail, this lynx is smaller and far more flexible in its habits than its northern relative. It tolerates fragmented landscapes, thrives on rabbits and rodents, and occupies almost every habitat type on the continent.
That adaptability shows in its range: bobcats occur from southern Canada to central Mexico, including suburban greenbelts where they hunt at night largely unnoticed.
Size and measurements
| Head-body length | 19 in – 4 ft 1 in (47–125 cm) |
|---|---|
| Tail length | 4 in – 8 in (9–20 cm) |
| Shoulder height | 12 in – 24 in (30–60 cm) |
| Body weight | 8.8–40 lb (4–18 kg) — Typical males 7–14 kg; northern animals are consistently larger than southern ones. |
| Top recorded speed | 30 mph (48 km/h) — Short bursts; bobcats are stalkers rather than pursuers. |
| Lifespan in the wild | 7–12 years |
| Lifespan under human care | 20–25 years |
Habitat and range
Almost anything with cover: chaparral, hardwood and conifer forest, swamp, desert canyon, sagebrush and the wooded margins of towns and cities.
From southern Canada through most of the contiguous United States to central Mexico, with the highest densities in the south-east and south-west.
Diet and hunting
Cottontail rabbits and rodents form the core; bobcats also take birds, lizards and, in northern winters, deer weakened by snow.
Hunting strategy — Stalk and pounce. A bobcat freezes, creeps to within a few feet, then covers the last distance in one or two bounds.
Behaviour and activity
Solitary and territorial. Males hold ranges overlapping several females, marking with scrapes, urine and faeces at trail junctions.
Crepuscular. Activity peaks around dawn and dusk, extending into the night near human settlement.
Climbing and swimming
Climbing — Strong. Climbs easily, resting on branches and using trees to escape dogs and coyotes.
Swimming — Capable. Will swim across streams and swamp channels, notably in the south-eastern United States.
Conservation status
The Bobcat is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with a population trend recorded as stable in the assessment published in 2016.
Numbers are healthy across most of the range and the species has recolonised parts of the Midwest. Local concerns include rodenticide exposure in urban populations and mange outbreaks.
Documented threats
- Vehicle collisions
- Anticoagulant rodenticide exposure
- Habitat fragmentation near cities
- Regulated and illegal harvest pressure
- Disease in isolated urban populations
Look up the current Red List assessment for Lynx rufus
Notable traits
- It is the most numerous wild cat in North America and the one most often photographed by home security cameras.
- Coat pattern varies from heavily spotted in the south-west to almost plain in northern forests.
- Urban bobcats in southern California have been studied for years as an indicator of how carnivores cope with fragmented landscapes.
Sources for this profile
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Global assessment categories, population trends and documented threats.
- IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group Species accounts, distribution notes and Cat News reporting for every wild felid.
- U.S. National Park Service Long-running monitoring of North American carnivores inside protected areas.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal listing status and recovery planning for cats occurring in the United States.
- Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Reviewed species accounts with morphometric ranges and reproductive data.