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Bobcat.

Lynx Roux (Lynx rufus)

Bobcat Takes a Swim in Narrows Inlet

(Summarized from the Coast Reporter article by Sophie Woodrooffe - Aug. 29, 2019). “Gibsons-based photographer Dolf Vermeulen and his friends were exploring Narrows Inlet in their 14-foot aluminum boat when they were treated to a chance encounter with a bobcat out for a swim.  Conservation Officer Leyland Klassen said the Sunshine Coast is home to a “healthy population” of bobcats, and that while not an everyday occurrence, it’s not uncommon for cats to be seen swimming.”  Bobcats are elusive and solitary. Most people have only seen a bobcat in a video, a photo, or on a trail camera. This webpage intends to make the reader more familiar with this shy, beautiful creature.  

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Range​

The Bobcat is the most common wildcat in North America. As shown on the map, their range exteds from east to west through southern Canada. They also range over most of the continental United States and northern Mexico.  Their range in Canada has been expanding northward and this is attributed to forest clearance and warmer winters. Their large range is an indication of how adaptable this small cat is. Bobcats live in a wide variety of habitats, including boreal coniferous and mixed forests in the north, bottomland hardwood forests and coastal swamps in the southeast, and desert and scrublands in the southwest.  Solitary and territorial, Bobcats require large continuous expanses of habitat for survival.

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​​Another wildcat in British Columbia is the Lynx. To clarify, Lynxes occur over most of British Columbia, but not on the coastal islands and only rarely in the wet forests west of the Coast Range. 

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Physical characteristics

Bobcats are about the size of a cocker spaniel, or twice the size of a domestic house cat.

An adult Bobcat stands about 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) at the shoulders, is 25 to 42 inches long (not including the tail), and weighs anywhere from 9 to 33 pounds (4 to 15 kilograms). Bobcats have muscular bodies. Their back legs are longer than the front legs. The front paws are larger than its back paws and the toes are webbed and have retractable claws.Generally, males are larger than females and Bobcats in more northern climates tend to grow larger than ones in the south. The Bobcat's fur is buff to brown, sometimes with a reddish tinge, and marked with spots or bands of brown and black. The pattern on the back, sides and legs may be distinct, becoming more subtle until it reaches a very light coloured underbelly.

The Bobcat owes its name to its stubby, “bobbed” tail. White underneath and black on top at the tip, it is usually between 4 and 7 inches long.  Almost like sideburns, Bobcats have “ruffs” of hair on the sides of their face below the ears. Each ear has a small ear tuft at the tip, and a white splotch on the back.

Thanks to Cliff Roy's wildlife adventures in British Columbia, we think this 45 second video magnificently captures a bobcat, stopping and posing in the winter bush.

Hunting and Diet

Bobcats are carnivores. They hunt at dawn and dusk and are opportunistic predators that will eat almost anything. Their diet often depends on what is available that will not put up too much of a fight. They prefer rabbits and hares, but they will also eat rodents such as squirrels and mice, beaver,  ground-nesting birds such as grouse, bats, and the occasional deer or fawn. When food is scarce they will also scavenge.

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Living on a diet of largely rabbits and hares necessitates hunting strategies that involve patience, stealth and speed. What are the assets that a Bobcat employs when faced with hunger? The Bobcat  has excellent vision and hearing, unparalleled patience and will stalk or lie in wait for long periods of time.  Bobcats not long distance runners, but they can sprint at a 30 mph. speed for a  short burst. When they run, they put their hind paws in the prints of their forepaws enabling a very quiet ambush. Able to leap 10 to 12 ft. in a single bound, the Bobcat will often capture its prey before the prey is even aware of the danger.  Prey that is in the water or up a tree is not safe either as the Bobcat is a competent swimmer and a strong, speedy climber. 

 

Considering the size of a bobcat, it seems surprising to think of a “cocker spaniel” bringing down a deer, but according to an article, in the Hub, entitled “The Small But Powerful Bobcat”…“The Bobcat is more into working smart instead of hard. Bobcats sitting on a tree branch observing a deer underneath them will leap onto the deer's back, and quickly bite through the deer's jugular vein, bringing a speedy death and dinner.”  This bite is accomplished because a Bobcat has powerful jaws and a bite stronger than that of a fox, coyote, lynx, dog, cheetah, or snow leopard.

 The life span of a Bobcat in the wild is thought to be about 7 years and is explained more fully in the video below: “How Long Do Bobcats Live.” 

Life Cycle

Females are mature and ready to breed in their second year. The height of the breeding season is February and March. Some studies show that having a home range can be a plus in attracting a mate. Courting may be accompanied by behaviors such as bumping, chasing, ambushing, hissing and screaming. This is a brief association and is not accompanied by pair bonding or co-operative parenting.

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​Generally, the female gives birth to one litter a year. Gestation will take 60-70 days and 2 to 4 kittens will be born in late April or early May.  The kittens are born with their eyes closed.  After ten days their eyes open and at about 10 weeks they are weaned. The kittens will stay with their mother for a period up to a year.​​

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Dens

Females choose a den location that provides protection from weather and predators. These locations could include caves, rock piles, hollow trees and spaces under dense shrubs.  The female gathers moss, leaves and grass to line a small  depression. She will have several of these dens and shift her kittens from one to another in an effort to keep them safe. 

The female Bobcat is a single parent, a dependable provider, a protective mother and a patient teacher. The kittens, following their mother in dim light conditions, look for the white patches on the back of her ears. If the kittens fall too far behind their mother, she will softly call to them while raising her tail to reveal the white patch below.

Endangered?

NatureServe Canada gives the Bobcat a national status of N5 (demonstrably widespread abundant and secure).  According to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, “Bobcats are an indicator species — the health of their population is indicative of habitat connectivity. Although the bobcat has managed to survive after centuries of extensive hunting and trapping, it is currently threatened by human development and urban sprawl.”

 

Predators of young and/or adult bobcats include eagles, great horned owls, cougars, coyotes, foxes, bears, and adult male bobcats.  As well as predation, Bobcats lose their lives to starvation and road accidents. The role of parasites and disease is not fully understood, but some accounts suggest that they play a significant role in the mortality rates of the Bobcat.

 

The Bobcat is regularly harvested in BC by both hunters and trappers. Identified as a Class 2 furbearer under BC's Fur Management Program, harvests are officially regulated (methods, seasons, bag limits and quotas) at the regional level, in consultation with local trapper and hunter organizations.

Preventing Conflict

Although Bobcats are solitary, shy and elusive, they are also territorial and adaptive and they mark their territory with claw marks, feces and urine.  The following are suggestions that have a wide application when considering how to prevent unwanted interactions with wildlife.

The following is quoted from an article entitled “Bobcat Awareness” from the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.

 

Follow these steps to prevent attracting bobcats:

AT HOME

  • Do not attract or feed wildlife. Raccoons, mice and rabbits are natural prey and may attract bobcats.

  • Do not leave pet food outside as this can attract wildlife.

  • Ensure birdseed is not attracting wildlife.

  • Ensure garbage is locked to prevent attracting rodents, skunks or raccoons.

  • Roaming pets are easy prey: bring pets in at night. If they must stay outside at night, ensure they are in a kennel with a secure roof.

  • Secure all livestock pens and coops within a well maintained electric fence.

  • Cut back brush to reduce cover for bobcats to rest and to increase sight lines for better visibility.

  • Install motion sensor lights

ON THE TRAILS

  • Be alert and aware at all times.

  • Avoid surprise encounters by making noise -- i.e. use your voice

  • Keep dogs leashed. It is an offence under the BC Wildlife Act to allow your dog to pursue/chase wildlife.

  • Look for signs of fresh bobcat activity -- i.e. claw marks on trees or logs, scat or paw prints.

  • Riding or running quickly and quietly puts you at risk for surprise encounters. Slow down going around blind corners and make noise.

  • Carry bear spray and know how to use it.

Always report wildlife sightings or injured wildlife and/or encounters to the BC Conservation Officer Service 24-hotline at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP) or online at www.rapp.bc.ca

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