Mammals · Carnivora · Felidae

Bobcat

Lynx rufus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Its English name refers to its characteristic short, bobbed tail, and it is the most abundant and widely distributed wild cat in North America.

Weight

4 kg – 15 kg

Size

65 cm – 1.1 m

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestDesertCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Feline Temperate forest Desert Mammal

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Fun facts

It can make a living anywhere from desert to the suburbs.
It feeds mainly on rabbits and hares, supplemented with rodents, birds and the occasional young deer.
It lives in forest, desert, mountain and swamp across much of North America.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Forest, desert, mountain and swamp across much of North America
Birth weight: 265 g at birth, eyes closed
Size at birth: 265 g at birth
Sexual maturity: Female: 1 year | Male: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 50-70 days (~62 days)
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 6 young per litter (most commonly 2-3)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 32.3 years

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); A-Z Animals; US Forest Service FEIS; Animal Diversity Web; Texas Tech NSRL Mammals of Texas; BioKIDS; UF/IFAS EDIS