Bobcat: Difference between revisions
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| species = '''''L. rufus''''' |
| species = '''''L. rufus''''' |
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| binomial = ''Lynx rufus'' |
| binomial = ''Lynx rufus'' |
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| binomial_authority = |
| binomial_authority = [[Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber|Schreber]], 1777 |
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}} |
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The '''Bobcat''' (''Lynx rufus'', |
The '''Bobcat''' (''Lynx rufus'', or commonly ''felis rufus'') is a wild cat native to North America. They are found mostly in the United States, southern Canada, and nothern Mexico. The bobcat is an adaptable animal that inhabits wooded areas, but also semi-desert and urban areas, and swamplands. They live in a set home range which shifts in size with the season. It will mark this territory with a complex system of claw marks and leaving the scent of its urine and feces. |
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In appearance, the bobcat has characteristic black bars on its forelegs and tail. They also have prominent, pointed ears with black hair at the tip. Their name derives from its short, stubby tail, which is "bobbed" in appearance. Their coloration is mostly a tan to brown, with black spots that cover its coat. Their stomach and other parts are colored white. The bobcat is twice as large as a house cat but typically smaller than the related [[Canada lynx]]. The male is about 36 inches (90 cm) in length, and weighs from 16 to 30 lbs., larger than the female. |
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Its habitat is [[deciduous]] forests, semi-deserts, scrublands and wooded areas in most of the [[United States]] and [[Mexico]]. They can also survive in cities. The Bobcat can be found in a few parts of southern [[Canada]], where its range overlaps with the habitat of the related [[Canada Lynx]]. Hybridization between wild Canada Lynx and Bobcat has been documented in [[Maine]] and [[Minnesota]]. |
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Bobcats are carnivorous animals which will hunt anything from insects and small rodents to large deer, but often show a preference rabbits and hares. What they hunt will depend on the area and habitat, season, and scarcity of prey, but can go long periods without food. However, their method of hunting changes with the size of their prey. The bobcat breeds from winter into the spring and have a gestation period of about two months. The kittens will stay with the mother until about a year old. |
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They breed in late [[winter]] or early [[spring (season)|spring]] and have a [[gestation]] period of about two months. A female may have one to six [[kitten]]s each year. Although adapted to a variety of habitats across the country, they do not tolerate the deep [[snow]]s. Bobcats move about their home ranges most actively in the hours near dawn and dusk, hunting small [[mammal]]s. They seek cover in conifer stands and on rocky ledges. |
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==Taxonomy== |
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Unlike the larger Canada Lynx, which they resemble, Bobcats are often highly adaptable to [[human]]-caused changes in environmental conditions; some biologists believe that there are more bobcats in the [[United States]] today than in colonial times. They have vanished from parts of the midwest where most suitable habitat has been replaced by cultivated fields. |
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There has been some debate over how to classify this species, mostly between the classifications of ''lynx rufus'' and ''felis rufus''. Although the former is the prefered scientific name, the debate is part of a wider issue as to whether the lynx should be given its own genus, or simply placed in a more inclusive genus ''felis''.<ref name=tx>Fischer, William C.; Miller, Melanie; Johnston, Cameron M.; Smith, Jane K. (February 1, 1996). ''Fire Effects Information System''. DIANE Publishing. ISBN 0788145681. p.83.</ref> The bobcat is believed to be evolved from a Eurasian lynx which crossed into North America by way of the [[Bering land bridge]] during the [[Pleistocene]]. The first wave moved into the southern portion of North America, which was soon cut off from the north by glaciers. This population evolved into modern bobcats around 20000 years ago. A second population arrived from Asia and settled in the north, creating the modern Canadian Lynx.<ref>''American Marten, Fisher, Lynx, & Wolverine in the Western U.S''. DIANE Publishing. ISBN 0788136283. pp. 77-8</ref> |
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Bobcats are [[carnivore]]s that typically hunt wild [[rabbit]]s, [[hare]]s, and [[rodent]]s, but will also attempt to hunt the larger [[deer]] in winter months when other food is scarce. |
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===Subspecies=== |
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The main subspecies, found in much of the eastern United States is the nominate–''L. rufus rufus'' (Schreber). To the north in Maine and Canada lives ''L. rufus gigas'' (Bangs), and to the south ''L. rufus floridanus'' (Rafinesque).<ref>Whitaker et al. 1998, p. 496</ref> However nine other subspecies are recognised, including ''L. rufus superiorensis'' (Peterson & Downing), ''L. rufus baileyi'' (Merriam), ''L. rufus californicus'' (Mearns), ''L. rufus escuinipae'' (J. A. Allen), ''L. rufus fasciatus'' (Rafinesque), ''L. rufus oaxacensis'' (Goodwin), ''L. rufus pallescens'' (Merriam), ''L. rufus peninsularis'' (Thomas), and ''L. rufus texensis'' (Mearns).<ref name=tx/> |
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==Physical characteristics== |
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In appearance the bobcat is quite similar to the Canada Lynx, but a little smaller. In color they are mostly tan to grayish brown, but can vary. They also have numerous black streeks on its coat, with dark bars on its foreles and tail. Their spotted coat allows them to blend into their environment. It ears are tipped and pointed, and have black tufts, and an off-white color on its lips, chin, and underparts. They are born well-furred and already have their spots. Adult male bobcats are 28 to 47 inches (70–120 cm) long, averaging 36 inches (90 cm), and height to their shoulders is about 14 or 15 inches (36–38 cm).<ref>Cahalane, Victor H (March 1, 2005). ''Meeting the Mammals''. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 141799522X. p. 64.</ref> Included in their length is a stubby 6 inch (15 cm) tail, which has a "bobbed" apearance, which gives this species its name. They weigh about twice that of a house cat, males from 16 to 30 lbs (7–14 kg), but have been known to go up to 35 pounds (16 kg), while the females, which are smaller, average about 20 pounds (9 kg). They are muscular, and have hind legs that are longer than its front legs, giving the animal a bobbing run. They weigh .6 to .75 lbs (280–340 g) and are about 10 inches (255 mm) in length at birth. By their first year they will reach about 10 lbs (4.5 kg). They have sharp hearing and vision, and a good sense of smell. They are also excellent climbers. Bobcats can and will swim when they need to, but will normally avoid water.<ref name=wl>Fergus, Charles (August 1, 2003). ''Wildlife of Virginia and Maryland Washington D.C''. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811728218. p. 119.</ref> |
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[[Image:bobcat_tracks_in_mud.jpg|thumb|right|Bobcat tracks in Note the hind print (top) partially covering the fore print (center).]] |
[[Image:bobcat_tracks_in_mud.jpg|thumb|right|Bobcat tracks in Note the hind print (top) partially covering the fore print (center).]] |
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| ⚫ | Bobcat tracks show four toes |
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===Tracks=== |
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<br style="clear:both;"/> |
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| ⚫ | Bobcat tracks show four toes and no claw marks. The tracks can range in size from 1 to 3 inches (2–8 cm). When walking or trotting, the spread of the tracks are spaced roughly 8 to 18 inches (20–46 cm) apart, but can make great strides when running, often from 4 to 8 feet (1–2 m).<ref>Peterson Roger Tory; Murie, Olaus Johan (January 15, 1998). ''A Field Guide to Animal Tracks''. Houghton Mifflin Field Guides. ISBN 0395910943. p. 115.</ref> Like all cats, bobcats ''directly register'', meaning their hind prints usually fall exactly on top of their fore prints (this is not the case in the photograph in this section). Bobcat tracks can generally be distinguished from feral or house cat tracks by their size (feral cat tracks being about 3.8 cm (1.5 inches) square) and also by the indentation at the top of the bobcat's foot pad (feral cat tracks generally show a single, rounded hump at the top of the foot pad). |
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==Behavior== |
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Bobcats are active at night, especially at twilight. They keep on the move from three hours before sunset until midnight, then again from before dawn until three hours after sunrise. Each night they will move from two to seven miles along their habitual routes.<ref name=wl/> |
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===Hunting=== |
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As a predator, the bobcat is able to go for long periods without food when it is not available, and then when it is will eat heavily. For these periods they will go after larger animals which they can cache and come back to later. The bobcat hunts by stalking or ambushing their prey and then pouncing. Their preference is toward mammals about 1.5 to 12.5 lbs. in weight. Their main prey may vary by region. In the eastern United States it is the [[cottontail rabbit]], but in the north it is the [[snowshoe hare]]. When these prey exist together, as in New England, they make up the primary sustinence of the bobcat. The the far south this is sometimes replaced by the cotton rat. However their prey will vary widely based on season and availability. |
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The bobcat hunts animals of three different sizes, and will adjust their hunting techniques accordingly. On small animals they will hunt in areas known to be abundant in prey, and will lie, crouch, or stand still in wait for an animal to wander close. They will then prounce, grabbing its prey with its sharp, retractable claws. These are usually small rodents like mice and squirrels or birds, but also fish and insects. On slightly larger animals such as rabbits and hares, they will stalk their prey from a covering and wait until they come within 20 to 35 feet before rushing in to attack. Less commonly they will feed on larger animals such as foxes, minks, skunks, and house cats. They have been known to kill deer as well, especially in winter when smaller prey is scarce, or when deer populations become more abundant. They will do so by by stalking the deer, often when it is lying down, then rushing in and grabbing it by the neck and bite through the base of the skull or chest. Certainly they are capable of killing deer but rarely do. It will then eat its fill and bury it with snow or leaves, and afterwards return to it several times for food.<ref>Whitaker et al. 1998, pp. 494-5</ref> |
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===Breeding=== |
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The male and female bobcats will begin breeding by their second summer, but the female may sometimes start as early as their first year. By September or October, sperm production begins, and will be fertile into the summer. The dominant male will travel with a female and mate with her several times, generally from winter until early spring. The two may undertake a number of different behaviours, including bumping, chasing, and ambushing. Other males may be in attendance of this, but will not become involved and remain aloof. Once the male sees that the female is receptive, he grasps her in the typical felid neck grip. The female may go on to mate with the other male cats. The female is left to raise the young alone. One to six, but usually two to four, kittens are born in April or May, roughly after 62 days of gestation. There may sometimes be a second litter, which has the birth occur as late as September. She will give birth in some sort of enclosure, usually a small cave or hollow log. The young open their eyes by the ninth or ten day. They start exploring their surroundings at four weeks and are weaned at about two months. They will be hunting by themselves by their first fall but will remain with the mother until nearly a year old.<ref>Whitaker et al. 1998, p. 495</ref> |
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==Survival== |
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The bobcat has no major predators. The coyote has been known to be a direct predator of the bobcat, but has an unknown affect on their populations. Their deaths are can come from a variety of causes, such as diseases, accidents, hunters, automobiles, and starvation. Kittens however may be hunted by seveal predators, including owls, foxes, and even male bobcats. The young is also perhaps most likely to die shortly after it leaves its mother and are still learning to hunt. Of fifteen bobcats tracked, the yearly survival rate averaged 0.624, with females having the same rate as males. Many bobcats will live to six or eight years of age, with a few reaching beyond ten. The longest they have been known to live in the wild is 16 years, but in captivity have been known to live up to 32.2 years of age. However, when prey populations are not as abundant, fewer kittens are likely to reach adulthood. Bobcats may also harbor large parasites, mostly ticks and fleas, and will often carry the parasites of its prey, especially rabbits and squirrels. One mite in particualar–''lynxacarus morlani''–has to date only been found on the bobcat. Its still unclear how large of a role parasites and diseases play in the mortality of bobcats, but it seems to be larger than starvation, accidents, and predation. |
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The bobcat has long been hunted and trapped by humans. They are listed in CITES treaty which allows them to be hunted so long as doing so is not detrimental to their population. However bobcats have maintained a high population, even in the south where they are extensively hunted. Kittens are most vulnerable to hunting, albeit indirectly, due to their dependence on an adult female for the first few months of its life. In the 1970s and 1980s their furs saw an unprecented rise in price, causing further interest in hunting them. However these furs are worth little today. They are nevertheless still hunted, with half the mortality of some populations being attributed to this cause. As a result, the rate of bobcats dying in winter when hunting season is generally open is skewed. There have also been reports of cannibalism occuring when prey levels are low, but is very rare and does not influence the population.<ref name=mort>Feldhamer, George A; Thompson, Bruce C; Chapman, Joseph A (January 1, 2004). ''Wild Mammals of North America''. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801874165. pp. 769-70.</ref> If chased by a dog, which in human-inhabited areas are a major source of predation, they will usually climb up a tree.<ref>Whitaker et al. 1998, p. 496</ref> Additionally the bobcat does not tolerate deep snow, and will hole-up and wait out heavy snow storms.<ref name=park>National Park Service. Yellowstone National Park. ''[http://www.nps.gov/yell/nature/animals/Bobcat/Bobcat.html Bobcat]''. Retrieved on August 24, 2006.</ref> |
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==Distribution== |
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The original range of the bobcat was from southern Canada to throughought the eastern United States, and down as far south as Oaxaca, Mexico. The bobcat still occurs in much of this range, from Maine to Florida and westward to Mississippi. They will often inhabit areas near large cities. However it no longer occurs in some areas as it once did, such as western New York and Pennsylvania, and much of the Midwest, like southern Minnesota, eastern South Dakota, Iowa, and much of Missouri.<ref>Whitaker et al. 1998, pp. 493-4.</ref> Their activites are confined to well-defined territories which vary in size depending on sex, season, and distribution of prey. This home range is marked with their feces, urine scent, and by clawing prominent trees in the area. In this territory the bobcat will have numerous places of shelter, usually a main den and several auxiliary shelters on the outer extent of their range, which may be a hollow log, brush piles, thickets, or under a rock ledge. The odor of their den is strong. In summer the range of a male can reach roughly 16 square miles or be less than a square mile, while the range of the female is less than half that. In winter they may wander into other territories and will expand their own greatly to up to 40 square miles. The range of a male may, and often do, overlap with other male bobcats, but female bobcats will rarely wander into another female's range. However two or more females may reside within a male's home range. Other males may also be allowed within the territory, but a dominance hierarchy is often established, which will exclude some transients from favored areas. Generally though there exists about one bobcat per every five square miles, or perhaps slightly less depending on the location.<ref>Whitaker et al. 1998, pp. 495-6</ref> Additionally there seems to be a link between population density and sex ratio. One study noted that an unharvest population of a high density in California had a sex ratio of 2.1 males per female. When the density decreased, the sex ratio skewed to 0.86 males per female. Another study observed a similar ratio, and added the possible explaination that males were better able to cope with the increased competition, and that this would help limit reproduction until various factors would lower the density.<ref name=mort/> |
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The bobcat is an adaptable animal, and is able to survive in numerous habitats and through changes in their environment. Unlike the lynx it does not depend on the deep forest, but will also live in swamps and mountainous and wooded areas. If rocky ledges, swamps, or forested tracts are present, they will also make their home near agricultural areas. Their need is simply for land which will give them activity and rest, typically provided by woodlands–both deciduous and coniferous, or mixed. Their resting and activies usually center around swamps or ledges, which help them blend into the enviroment with their spots. Their range does not seem to be hindered by human populations, as long as they can still find a suitable habitat. However their population in the north seems to be limited due to both snow depth and the presence of the lynx.<ref>Whitaker et al. 1998, p. 494</ref> They are nevertheless well-suited to human caused changes in the environment, unlike the lynx, and some researchers believe there are more bobcats today in the United States than in colonial times.<ref name=park/> |
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==Notes== |
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<div class="references-small"> |
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<references/> |
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</div> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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* Whitaker, John O; Hamilton, W J (January 1, 1998). ''Mammals of the Eastern United States''. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801434750. |
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* {{IUCN2006|assessors=Cat Specialist Group|year=2002|id=12521|title=Lynx rufus|downloaded=12 May 2006}} Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern |
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{{commonscat|Lynx rufus}} |
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*{{ITIS|ID=180582|taxon=Lynx rufus|year=2006|date=23 March}} |
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*[http://paint-the-sky.org/bobcats/ Bobcats Fan Site] |
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*[http://www.nps.gov/yell/nature/animals/Bobcat/Bobcat.html National Park Service - Bobcat] (some adapted public domain text) |
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*''Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking'' by Tom Brown, Jr. |
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*[http://www.wildcatconservation.org/cats/factsheets/northamerica/bobcat/index.shtml International Society for Endangered Cats Canada] |
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*[http://www.exoticcatz.com/speciesbob.html Exoticcatz.com Bobcat Page] Information on the care and behavior of bobcats kept as pets or companion animals. |
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[[Category:Felines]] |
[[Category:Felines]] |
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Revision as of 20:05, 5 September 2006
| Bobcat | |
|---|---|
| File:Bobcat sitting.jpg | |
| A Bobcat sitting on some hay | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | L. rufus
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| Binomial name | |
| Lynx rufus Schreber, 1777
| |
The Bobcat (Lynx rufus, or commonly felis rufus) is a wild cat native to North America. They are found mostly in the United States, southern Canada, and nothern Mexico. The bobcat is an adaptable animal that inhabits wooded areas, but also semi-desert and urban areas, and swamplands. They live in a set home range which shifts in size with the season. It will mark this territory with a complex system of claw marks and leaving the scent of its urine and feces.
In appearance, the bobcat has characteristic black bars on its forelegs and tail. They also have prominent, pointed ears with black hair at the tip. Their name derives from its short, stubby tail, which is "bobbed" in appearance. Their coloration is mostly a tan to brown, with black spots that cover its coat. Their stomach and other parts are colored white. The bobcat is twice as large as a house cat but typically smaller than the related Canada lynx. The male is about 36 inches (90 cm) in length, and weighs from 16 to 30 lbs., larger than the female.
Bobcats are carnivorous animals which will hunt anything from insects and small rodents to large deer, but often show a preference rabbits and hares. What they hunt will depend on the area and habitat, season, and scarcity of prey, but can go long periods without food. However, their method of hunting changes with the size of their prey. The bobcat breeds from winter into the spring and have a gestation period of about two months. The kittens will stay with the mother until about a year old.
Taxonomy
There has been some debate over how to classify this species, mostly between the classifications of lynx rufus and felis rufus. Although the former is the prefered scientific name, the debate is part of a wider issue as to whether the lynx should be given its own genus, or simply placed in a more inclusive genus felis.[1] The bobcat is believed to be evolved from a Eurasian lynx which crossed into North America by way of the Bering land bridge during the Pleistocene. The first wave moved into the southern portion of North America, which was soon cut off from the north by glaciers. This population evolved into modern bobcats around 20000 years ago. A second population arrived from Asia and settled in the north, creating the modern Canadian Lynx.[2]
Subspecies
The main subspecies, found in much of the eastern United States is the nominate–L. rufus rufus (Schreber). To the north in Maine and Canada lives L. rufus gigas (Bangs), and to the south L. rufus floridanus (Rafinesque).[3] However nine other subspecies are recognised, including L. rufus superiorensis (Peterson & Downing), L. rufus baileyi (Merriam), L. rufus californicus (Mearns), L. rufus escuinipae (J. A. Allen), L. rufus fasciatus (Rafinesque), L. rufus oaxacensis (Goodwin), L. rufus pallescens (Merriam), L. rufus peninsularis (Thomas), and L. rufus texensis (Mearns).[1]
Physical characteristics
In appearance the bobcat is quite similar to the Canada Lynx, but a little smaller. In color they are mostly tan to grayish brown, but can vary. They also have numerous black streeks on its coat, with dark bars on its foreles and tail. Their spotted coat allows them to blend into their environment. It ears are tipped and pointed, and have black tufts, and an off-white color on its lips, chin, and underparts. They are born well-furred and already have their spots. Adult male bobcats are 28 to 47 inches (70–120 cm) long, averaging 36 inches (90 cm), and height to their shoulders is about 14 or 15 inches (36–38 cm).[4] Included in their length is a stubby 6 inch (15 cm) tail, which has a "bobbed" apearance, which gives this species its name. They weigh about twice that of a house cat, males from 16 to 30 lbs (7–14 kg), but have been known to go up to 35 pounds (16 kg), while the females, which are smaller, average about 20 pounds (9 kg). They are muscular, and have hind legs that are longer than its front legs, giving the animal a bobbing run. They weigh .6 to .75 lbs (280–340 g) and are about 10 inches (255 mm) in length at birth. By their first year they will reach about 10 lbs (4.5 kg). They have sharp hearing and vision, and a good sense of smell. They are also excellent climbers. Bobcats can and will swim when they need to, but will normally avoid water.[5]
Tracks
Bobcat tracks show four toes and no claw marks. The tracks can range in size from 1 to 3 inches (2–8 cm). When walking or trotting, the spread of the tracks are spaced roughly 8 to 18 inches (20–46 cm) apart, but can make great strides when running, often from 4 to 8 feet (1–2 m).[6] Like all cats, bobcats directly register, meaning their hind prints usually fall exactly on top of their fore prints (this is not the case in the photograph in this section). Bobcat tracks can generally be distinguished from feral or house cat tracks by their size (feral cat tracks being about 3.8 cm (1.5 inches) square) and also by the indentation at the top of the bobcat's foot pad (feral cat tracks generally show a single, rounded hump at the top of the foot pad).
Behavior
Bobcats are active at night, especially at twilight. They keep on the move from three hours before sunset until midnight, then again from before dawn until three hours after sunrise. Each night they will move from two to seven miles along their habitual routes.[5]
Hunting
As a predator, the bobcat is able to go for long periods without food when it is not available, and then when it is will eat heavily. For these periods they will go after larger animals which they can cache and come back to later. The bobcat hunts by stalking or ambushing their prey and then pouncing. Their preference is toward mammals about 1.5 to 12.5 lbs. in weight. Their main prey may vary by region. In the eastern United States it is the cottontail rabbit, but in the north it is the snowshoe hare. When these prey exist together, as in New England, they make up the primary sustinence of the bobcat. The the far south this is sometimes replaced by the cotton rat. However their prey will vary widely based on season and availability.
The bobcat hunts animals of three different sizes, and will adjust their hunting techniques accordingly. On small animals they will hunt in areas known to be abundant in prey, and will lie, crouch, or stand still in wait for an animal to wander close. They will then prounce, grabbing its prey with its sharp, retractable claws. These are usually small rodents like mice and squirrels or birds, but also fish and insects. On slightly larger animals such as rabbits and hares, they will stalk their prey from a covering and wait until they come within 20 to 35 feet before rushing in to attack. Less commonly they will feed on larger animals such as foxes, minks, skunks, and house cats. They have been known to kill deer as well, especially in winter when smaller prey is scarce, or when deer populations become more abundant. They will do so by by stalking the deer, often when it is lying down, then rushing in and grabbing it by the neck and bite through the base of the skull or chest. Certainly they are capable of killing deer but rarely do. It will then eat its fill and bury it with snow or leaves, and afterwards return to it several times for food.[7]
Breeding
The male and female bobcats will begin breeding by their second summer, but the female may sometimes start as early as their first year. By September or October, sperm production begins, and will be fertile into the summer. The dominant male will travel with a female and mate with her several times, generally from winter until early spring. The two may undertake a number of different behaviours, including bumping, chasing, and ambushing. Other males may be in attendance of this, but will not become involved and remain aloof. Once the male sees that the female is receptive, he grasps her in the typical felid neck grip. The female may go on to mate with the other male cats. The female is left to raise the young alone. One to six, but usually two to four, kittens are born in April or May, roughly after 62 days of gestation. There may sometimes be a second litter, which has the birth occur as late as September. She will give birth in some sort of enclosure, usually a small cave or hollow log. The young open their eyes by the ninth or ten day. They start exploring their surroundings at four weeks and are weaned at about two months. They will be hunting by themselves by their first fall but will remain with the mother until nearly a year old.[8]
Survival
The bobcat has no major predators. The coyote has been known to be a direct predator of the bobcat, but has an unknown affect on their populations. Their deaths are can come from a variety of causes, such as diseases, accidents, hunters, automobiles, and starvation. Kittens however may be hunted by seveal predators, including owls, foxes, and even male bobcats. The young is also perhaps most likely to die shortly after it leaves its mother and are still learning to hunt. Of fifteen bobcats tracked, the yearly survival rate averaged 0.624, with females having the same rate as males. Many bobcats will live to six or eight years of age, with a few reaching beyond ten. The longest they have been known to live in the wild is 16 years, but in captivity have been known to live up to 32.2 years of age. However, when prey populations are not as abundant, fewer kittens are likely to reach adulthood. Bobcats may also harbor large parasites, mostly ticks and fleas, and will often carry the parasites of its prey, especially rabbits and squirrels. One mite in particualar–lynxacarus morlani–has to date only been found on the bobcat. Its still unclear how large of a role parasites and diseases play in the mortality of bobcats, but it seems to be larger than starvation, accidents, and predation.
The bobcat has long been hunted and trapped by humans. They are listed in CITES treaty which allows them to be hunted so long as doing so is not detrimental to their population. However bobcats have maintained a high population, even in the south where they are extensively hunted. Kittens are most vulnerable to hunting, albeit indirectly, due to their dependence on an adult female for the first few months of its life. In the 1970s and 1980s their furs saw an unprecented rise in price, causing further interest in hunting them. However these furs are worth little today. They are nevertheless still hunted, with half the mortality of some populations being attributed to this cause. As a result, the rate of bobcats dying in winter when hunting season is generally open is skewed. There have also been reports of cannibalism occuring when prey levels are low, but is very rare and does not influence the population.[9] If chased by a dog, which in human-inhabited areas are a major source of predation, they will usually climb up a tree.[10] Additionally the bobcat does not tolerate deep snow, and will hole-up and wait out heavy snow storms.[11]
Distribution
The original range of the bobcat was from southern Canada to throughought the eastern United States, and down as far south as Oaxaca, Mexico. The bobcat still occurs in much of this range, from Maine to Florida and westward to Mississippi. They will often inhabit areas near large cities. However it no longer occurs in some areas as it once did, such as western New York and Pennsylvania, and much of the Midwest, like southern Minnesota, eastern South Dakota, Iowa, and much of Missouri.[12] Their activites are confined to well-defined territories which vary in size depending on sex, season, and distribution of prey. This home range is marked with their feces, urine scent, and by clawing prominent trees in the area. In this territory the bobcat will have numerous places of shelter, usually a main den and several auxiliary shelters on the outer extent of their range, which may be a hollow log, brush piles, thickets, or under a rock ledge. The odor of their den is strong. In summer the range of a male can reach roughly 16 square miles or be less than a square mile, while the range of the female is less than half that. In winter they may wander into other territories and will expand their own greatly to up to 40 square miles. The range of a male may, and often do, overlap with other male bobcats, but female bobcats will rarely wander into another female's range. However two or more females may reside within a male's home range. Other males may also be allowed within the territory, but a dominance hierarchy is often established, which will exclude some transients from favored areas. Generally though there exists about one bobcat per every five square miles, or perhaps slightly less depending on the location.[13] Additionally there seems to be a link between population density and sex ratio. One study noted that an unharvest population of a high density in California had a sex ratio of 2.1 males per female. When the density decreased, the sex ratio skewed to 0.86 males per female. Another study observed a similar ratio, and added the possible explaination that males were better able to cope with the increased competition, and that this would help limit reproduction until various factors would lower the density.[9]
The bobcat is an adaptable animal, and is able to survive in numerous habitats and through changes in their environment. Unlike the lynx it does not depend on the deep forest, but will also live in swamps and mountainous and wooded areas. If rocky ledges, swamps, or forested tracts are present, they will also make their home near agricultural areas. Their need is simply for land which will give them activity and rest, typically provided by woodlands–both deciduous and coniferous, or mixed. Their resting and activies usually center around swamps or ledges, which help them blend into the enviroment with their spots. Their range does not seem to be hindered by human populations, as long as they can still find a suitable habitat. However their population in the north seems to be limited due to both snow depth and the presence of the lynx.[14] They are nevertheless well-suited to human caused changes in the environment, unlike the lynx, and some researchers believe there are more bobcats today in the United States than in colonial times.[11]
Notes
- ^ a b Fischer, William C.; Miller, Melanie; Johnston, Cameron M.; Smith, Jane K. (February 1, 1996). Fire Effects Information System. DIANE Publishing. ISBN 0788145681. p.83.
- ^ American Marten, Fisher, Lynx, & Wolverine in the Western U.S. DIANE Publishing. ISBN 0788136283. pp. 77-8
- ^ Whitaker et al. 1998, p. 496
- ^ Cahalane, Victor H (March 1, 2005). Meeting the Mammals. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 141799522X. p. 64.
- ^ a b Fergus, Charles (August 1, 2003). Wildlife of Virginia and Maryland Washington D.C. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811728218. p. 119.
- ^ Peterson Roger Tory; Murie, Olaus Johan (January 15, 1998). A Field Guide to Animal Tracks. Houghton Mifflin Field Guides. ISBN 0395910943. p. 115.
- ^ Whitaker et al. 1998, pp. 494-5
- ^ Whitaker et al. 1998, p. 495
- ^ a b Feldhamer, George A; Thompson, Bruce C; Chapman, Joseph A (January 1, 2004). Wild Mammals of North America. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801874165. pp. 769-70.
- ^ Whitaker et al. 1998, p. 496
- ^ a b National Park Service. Yellowstone National Park. Bobcat. Retrieved on August 24, 2006.
- ^ Whitaker et al. 1998, pp. 493-4.
- ^ Whitaker et al. 1998, pp. 495-6
- ^ Whitaker et al. 1998, p. 494
References
- Whitaker, John O; Hamilton, W J (January 1, 1998). Mammals of the Eastern United States. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801434750.
