MAMMALS

Bobcat, Lynx rufus or Felis rufus

Family Felidae (cats)

Size/Weight: approx. body 28" long, tail 5" long; approx. 22 lbs.

Range: Throughout the United States except parts of the midwest

Habitat: A wide variety of habitats, including forests, riparian areas, chaparral

The bobcat is about double the size of a housecat, is well-camouflaged, and has a very short, “bobbed” tail. Its face appears wide due to the long fur tufts below the ears, and the ears are tipped with short, black hairs. The color is light brown to reddish above, pale or whitish below, and spotted with dark brown or black that sometimes becomes streaked on the legs. The tail is striped, and black along the top edge. Movements of the bobcat are typically during early morning hours and after dusk, except in winter when they will be active during the day. They hunt by stealth, ambushing their favored prey of rabbits, other small mammals, and birds.

Track size (front): 2" wide x 2" long

Track size (rear): 1 4⁄5" wide x 2¼" long

Description of Track: Both feet have four toes that are visible in the track and a small dewclaw high on the foot that does not usually register. The track is arranged asymmetrically, with the outer three toes in an arc; the third toe from the outside being farthest forward. Claws are retractable and do not normally register. The metacarpal pads are fused and lobed into a somewhat trapezoidal shape, with two lobes on the leading edge and three on the trailing edge. The front track is wider than the rear, and the toes on cats splay easily, making the track appear even wider. Similar to the mountain lion tracks but much smaller.