Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

BOBCAT
Felis rutus or Lynx rutus

Bobcats are medium-sized cats; they are bigger than a house cat while smaller than a lion. They are about two feet tall and weigh about 20 pounds. They are usually light brown to reddish brown in color. A bobcat kitten's fur is spotted when they are born and as they get older the spots fade into light black streaks. Bobcats get their name from their unusually short tails that can be anywhere from 3 to 7 inches in length. Bobcats live throughout the U.S. with the exception of a few eastern central states.

They prefer woody or grassy areas, and their territory can span 5 to 50 miles. Bobcats are nocturnal, being active at night when their prey is most active. They have excellent vision and hearing, which are their most important senses when it comes to hunting. They eat rabbits, rodents, squirrels, ground-nesting birds, turkeys and occassionally have been known to take a sick or small deer.
Bobcats have retractable claws like house cats. This is a good way to tell the difference between a bobcat track and that of a dog since they are similar in size. Bobcats put their back feet in the same place where their front feet stepped so as not to disrupt the surroundings any more than necessary.

BOBCAT
Felis rutus or Lynx rutus

Bobcat Facts

• Bobcats can only eat about 3 pounds of meat at a time so they will often cover up any leftover meat from a large game kill.

• Bobcats can run at up to 30 miles per hour.

• Bobcats are generally loners except during mating season.

• Bobcat babies are called kittens

• Bobcats mark their territory with urine just like housecats.

• Bobcats are generally loners except during mating season.

Photo By Rolf Auerman

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