Named for the appearance of its “bobbed” tail, bobcats are built for warm environments but can be found in a range of diverse habitats across North America. Bobcats are skillful climbers and prefer the density that forests provide, but they are also found in abundance in desert habitats, and even adapt well to suburban environments. Despite there being such a large population with over one million in the United States alone, the chances of you spotting a bobcat in the wild are incredibly slim. This species of cat are notoriously shy, elusive, and crepuscular, meaning they are most actively hunting at dusk and again at dawn.
Bobcats are a relatively small wildcat, about twice the size of a domestic house cat. They weigh around 30 pounds on average but make up for their diminutive stature with their notorious ferocity. Bobcats are known as one of the most aggressive of any North American feline species, and are known by many as the “spitfires of the animal kingdom”. A bobcat emits a growl so deep and fearsome that passersby can often mistake them for much bigger cats. Even larger wildcats steer clear of bobcats. For example, Mountain lions will do almost anything to avoid an altercation with a bobcat because of how aggressively they fight.
Bobcats are stealthy hunters and quite skilled in this area. Their small stature does not stop them from taking down prey much larger than they are. Their favorite thing to eat are rabbits, but they are known to hunt other small rodents, birds, and deer on occasion. Once they have chosen a meal, they will lie in wait for the perfect moment, then perform a leaping pounce called a “deathblow” that can cover up to ten feet!
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