Bobcats require shelter both for resting and for fleeing potentially dangerous situations. Individual bobcats often establish numerous dens for themselves, with smaller ones in areas they frequent less often. Some typical shelter types in bobcats include hollow logs, caves, thickets, tree stumps, ledges of stone and heaps of undergrowth. Although bobcats are not classified as endangered animals due to consistent populations, destruction of habitat is indeed a risk for them, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Approximately just under one million bobcats exist today, according to the University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web. One possible factor that could contribute to decreasing numbers of these adept hunters is the presence of coyotes.
Another factor is hunting, as the felines are often sought after for their distinctly spotted coats. Population Population threats The major threat to bobcats throughout the US is being hunted for their soft fur, in some areas to near extinction. Fun Facts for Kids Bobcats, like all felids, have excellent hearing and vision and a good sense of smell. The bobcat's snarls and growls sound so deep and fearsome, it seems as if they are produced by a much bigger animal.
Bobcats have a main den within their territory, as well as several smaller ones, the main one often being in a cave. A smaller one might be just an old tree stump or a few rocks. Bobcats are ambush predators, stalking and hunting their prey with the element of surprise.
Bobcats prefer to walk, even though they are usually shown as very fast animals. References 1. Included in Lists Mammals of Canada. Mammals of Colorado. Mammals of Montana. Mammals of Vermont.
Related Animals African Golden Cat. Canadian Lynx. Eurasian Lynx. Geoffroy's Cat. Iberian Lynx. Arctic Fox. About three times the size of an average housecat, the bobcat is often mistaken for a lynx, and requires careful examination to distinguish it from its northern relative.
The bobcat is smaller in size, its legs are shorter and its black-striped and white-tipped tail is longer than that of the lynx. Generally nocturnal, the bobcat is a solitary stalker and requires large continuous expanses of habitat for its survival. It will mark its territory with claw marks, feces and urine.
Bobcats reside throughout North America, ranging from southern Canada, to the continental United States and northern Mexico. This feisty feline can adapt to many different habitats, including forests, swamplands, deserts and even urban outreaches. Once the kittens are born, the female drives the male away, but the male will stay in the area. The female nurses the kittens for two months.
They travel with her for three to five months before separating from her for the winter mating season. Females are sexually mature and mate after one year, but males do not mate until they are 2 years old. 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.
Most bobcats live between five and 15 years in the wild. The median life expectancy of a bobcat in human care is about 18 years. 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.
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