How do bobcats care for their young

Lynx rufus, bobcat. Feldhamer G. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. February 17, Living with Wildlife: Bobcats.

Please enjoy this video from Jackson Galaxy, a well-known cat behaviorist and host of How much will it cost to care for a new animal companion? Description Bobcats are elusive, nocturnal, and rarely seen. Ecology Habitat: Bobcats have evolved to survive in a variety of habitats including forests, semi-deserts, mountains and bushland.

Their adaptability has also allowed them to occupy, and be successful in, suburban settings. Development and family structure On average Bobcats give birth to three kittens typically between April and July, although they can give birth year round. Bobcats can live to be 12 years old in the wild. Foraging Bobcats are carnivorous generalists and their diet varies seasonally. Behavior Bobcats are solitary except during the breeding season and when females are rearing kittens.

Bobcats are excellent swimmers and tree climbers. Living with Bobcats Bobcats are not often responsible for killing domestic animals and typically use wild animals as prey items. If you take your pets outside at night be sure they are on a leash. Share This. Bobcats Lynx rufus are animals in the cat Felidae family. Bobcats live across North America from northern Mexico to Canada. They can be found living in forests, swamplands, deserts, scrublands and human inhabited areas. Bobcats are stealthy, nocturnal creatures, so humans rarely see them.

While most cats have long tails, bobcats' tails are short, which is where their name comes from as it appears to be cut, like a bob. Bobcats have iconic tufted ears and fur that ranges from grey to various shades of yellowish or reddish brown. All bobcats have black spots, but the number of spots changes. Some have spots only on their legs and tummy while others are covered in them.

Male and female bobcats typically only interact when they are breeding. The territories of males can cover an area of 25 to 30 square miles 40 to 48 square kilometers and overlap with other female and male bobcats, but smaller females territories of 5 square miles 8 square kilometers don't tend to merge.

Like house cats, bobcats can make hissing, purring, snarling, calling and growling noises. Bobcats may be hunted for their pelts, but they face a greater threat from habitat loss. Unlike other SSPs at the Zoo, the bobcat SSP does not manage an endangered species in human care because bobcats are not threatened , but rather manages the placement of rescued and rehabilitated bobcats that cannot return to the wild.

Skip to main content. Entry passes are required for all guests, including infants. All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at the Zoo, regardless of their vaccination status.

Fully vaccinated visitors do not need to wear a mask in outdoor areas. Animals Animals A-Z Bobcat. Share this page:. Fact sheet Conservation Physical Description The bobcat's fur is buff to brown, sometimes with a reddish tinge, and marked with spots or stripes of brown and black. Size Bobcats vary in size along their continental range, with larger animals found in the north and smaller animals in the south.

Native Habitat The majority of the world's bobcats are found in the United States, but they range from Mexico to southern Canada. Communication Bobcats communicate through scent, visual signals and vocalizations. At the Zoo, bobcats eat a prepared meat diet, mice, rats, chicks and bones.

Social Structure Bobcats are solitary and territorial animals. Reproduction and Development The bobcat's mating season is primarily in the winter, though mating can take place from November through August.

Sleep Habits Bobcats may be active during all hours of the day and night, but studies have consistently found that they are crepuscular most active at dawn and dusk.

Lifespan Most bobcats live between five and 15 years in the wild. Help this Species Reduce, reuse and recycle — in that order! They can be found from southern Canada, throughout the United States and into northern and central Mexico Wild Status Overall, the population of the bobcat is fairly stable. Diet Bobcats are carnivores and thus prefer an all meat diet. Predators Predators of the bobcat include mountain lions, coyotes, foxes, owls, wolves, and humans.

Home Bobcats will usually change their shelter on a daily basis. Life Span Bobcats can live to be years old in the wild. Size Bobcats generally weigh between 15 and 30 pounds. Quick Facts Bobcats are found only in North America. Bobcats often ambush their prey by waiting motionless and then pouncing on it. This is the same hunting technique used by the mountain lion.

Email Address. Kinney Rd. Adaptations The bobcats ability to adapt to many different habitats and ranges is what has made it such a successful species.