10 Things You Didn’t Know About Bobcats

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Bobcats

They are small wildcats that are native to North America. They’re scientifically known as Lynx rufus but are also referred to as bay lynx, red lynx, or wildcats. The key characteristics of bobcats are their short bobbed tail which led to the name. Bobcats are very elusive and tend to avoid humans, but it is noted that when one encounters a bobcat, one should observe it from a safe distance.

Bobcats have been noted for being territorial as much as they are stealthy hunters. It is a trait that is perfectly practiced and they take pride in their habitats and absolutely don’t like sharing. However, they are very patient and can wait for hours before striking.

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1. They Have Unique Characteristics

Maria de Bruyn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Aside from their easily recognized short bobbed tail, they have muscular bodies and sometimes have coats that vary in color. However, every variety of bobcats has black spots or bars on their furs. Bobcats measure around 2 to 3 feet in height and have a body length of 3 to 4 feet.  

2. Bobcats can Adapt to any Environment

These wild cats are able to inhabit a variety of habitats including swamps, deserts, forests, and urban areas. Bobcats are mostly found across North America, southern Canada, and Mexico. However, it should be noted that bobcats enjoy areas with dense vegetation for cover this includes brushy as well as rocky areas.

3. They use Their Skilled Abilities to Hunt

Alan Vernon, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bobcats are carnivorous predators who primarily eat small to medium-sized mammals such as hares, squirrels, rodents, rabbits, and birds. On special occasions, bobcats may feed on larger animals such as deer. With their keen senses of sight and hearing, bobcats are able to locate and stalk their prey. Aside from hunting, bobcats are skilled climbers and swimmers to pursue their prey effectively.

4. Bobcats are Nocturnal Animals

They are primarily active during nighttime hours but this doesn’t mean they aren’t seen during the day. Because of their twilight schedule, they have excellent night vision and acute hearing. This helps with hunting, especially at night. Due to the nocturnal routine, it is very hard to spot a bobcat during the day. The most shocking thing about bobcats is that they only sleep for 2 to 3 hours and are still able to go on with their normal day-to-day life.

5. They have Territorial tendencies

Becker1999 (Paul and Cathy), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bobcats are solitary animals that use their scent marking, feces, and claw marks on the tree as a way of marking their territories. The size of their territories sometimes overlaps with over bobcats’ territories. When it comes to their territory, bobcats may display aggressive behavior toward other bobcats. Male bobcats may fight other males in order to establish dominance. However, this doesn’t mean that bobcats enjoy confrontation, they prefer to mark their territories with scent markings.

6. They are Barely Conserved

Bobcats have been considered of least concern. The International Union for Conservation of Nature have been considered as a species of least concern on their Red List of Threatened Species. Even if local bobcats may face threats in some areas due to habitat loss, they are not categorized as endangered.

Urbanization is the biggest threat to bobcats because their habitats are destroyed. In some regions, bobcats are illegally hunted for their fur. However, just because bobcats aren’t described as endangered, it doesn’t mean that some conservation efforts haven’t been made. There are public awareness campaigns that play a role in conserving efforts for this species.

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7. They are Silent Communicators

Paul Danese, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bobcats are known for being silent animals who avoid vocalizing. Unless they are mating or communicating with their kittens, bobcats barely use their voice. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t communicate, instead of using their voice, they use visual cues, scent marking, and body language to communicate with other bobcats.

8. Bobcats Have a Great Lifespan

In the wild, the average lifespan of a bobcat is around 7-10 years. However, in captivity, they can live up to 32 years. At the moment, the oldest wild bobcat in the world was 16 years. The records are yet to be defeated. The oldest bobcat in captivity lived to be 32.

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9. They Don’t Like Being in Water

No machine-readable author provided. Calibas assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Even though bobcats are known for being great swimmers, this doesn’t mean they enjoy anything to do with water. In fact, they generally avoid water and only come close to water if extremely necessary. The only time they come in contact with water is when they are hunting.

10. Bobcats are Very Important to The Environment

Even though they have been labeled as the least concern for conversation prospects, they play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem. Bobcats control the populations of small mammals like rabbits and rodents. Basically, bobcats create a balance among small animals which are herbivores. 

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Generally, bobcats have been able to become very important to the environment. Even though they are labeled as least concern animals, it should be noted that without bobcats, there wouldn’t be a balance in the ecosystem. This would lead to a bunch of problems that can be avoided by protecting them.

One of the ways to do this is by raising awareness and sharing the importance of bobcats. Aside from their territorial behavior, bobcats are very peaceful animals that enjoy their own space and don’t attack humans unless extremely necessary. Bobcats are also known as wild cats, even with their slight resemblance to house pets, they are nothing like the domestic cats that the world has grown to love and adore over time. It should be noted that bobcats are among the most important animals in the world and should be protected at all costs.