Bobcat

Lynx rufus

IDENTIFICATION: This medium sized feline's most obvious feature is its short tail. It is about five inches long and black on the tip. Bobcats also have short ear tufts, similar to a lynx, as well as colors of brown with darker markings and a cream colored belly.

RANGE AND HABITAT: Bobcats used to be found throughout the United States. They are now rare in the majority of the Midwest and East. They are residents of Florida and especially like swampy wooded areas.

REPRODUCTION: Two young are usually born in the spring. They are blind and helpless at birth and will stay with their mothers until fall, or sometimes until the following year. They can live 10-15 years in the wild, and up to 25 years in captivity.

DIET: The bobcat is not a picky eater. It will eat just about any animal it can catch. The bobcat primarily feeds upon small mammals and birds. It is a nocturnal animal and has extremely good eyesight that helps make it an excellent predator.

FUTURE: The bobcat is not an endangered species, but hunting could lead to its downfall. Only nine states have a limit on the number of bobcats a hunter may kill, and there are no limits in any state on the number of licenses issued. The bobcat's fur is popular for coats in Europe and Japan.

CALUSA NATURE CENTER BOBCAT: We have had our bobcat since June 1991. He and a brother were brought to C.R.O.W. (a local wild animal hospital) after being taken away from someone who was raising them illegally as pets. Unfortunately, they were given a poor diet of canned milk that did not fulfill all their nutritional demands. As a result, the bobcat we have has a slight hip deformity. By carefully watching him walk, you will notice his back knees rotate in slightly. With time, and a lot of hard work, our bobcat's brother was released into the wild. Once the staff at C.R.O.W. realized the other's condition, they worked to tame him so he would feel comfortable around people. Although we do not name our animals at the Calusa Nature Center, most people call him Bob. Bob's diet consists of a combination of canned cat food, mice, rats, chicks, and ground turkey. He also enjoys the occasional raw egg. In spite of his hip problems, Bob's natural hunting instinct is still strong. He has managed to catch several wild rats, snakes, young opossums and even skunks. He is very similar to a house cat except his teeth and claws are much larger. He likes to play with tennis balls, palmetto branches, and yarn toys. We try to devote time every day to playing with and petting Bob. We have considered bringing him to programs, but like any cat, he does not like being on a leash! He is also uncomfortable around lots of people and unfamiliar surroundings.