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The bobcat feeds on only meat, and it can kill animals as big as deer. The bobcat subsists mainly on rabbits, ground squirrels, mice, pocket gophers and wood rats. Maybe that’s why they are able to make their home across the North American continent. You probably won’t see this secretive hunter, because bobcats are quite stealthy.

This member of the Felidae family possesses a keen sense of sight and hearing. The bobcat corners its prey and then attacks with lightening speed, but generally doesn’t have the stamina to maintain a lengthy chase. If you live near a farm, you probably know that bobcats will take domestic birds and small farm animals if they are left unattended. But when it comes down to it, the bobcat will scavenge the remains of dead animals in order to survive.

Like coyotes, bobcats were regarded as undesirable predators until 1971 when trapping regulations were put into place. Bobcats possess beautiful winter coats which have been coveted by hunters and trappers for years. However, because the bobcat lives in remote areas during the winter hunting season, trappers have trouble finding them. Besides, they are such stealthy creatures that a bobcat might be in a human’s vicinity and the person would never know it.

You can tell the difference between a bobcat and its cousin the lynx by the markings on the tail. The former has a short tail with a trademark white tip. The name “bobcat” probably originated because of the six inch tail. Otherwise their fur varies according to the terrain surrounding them. Bobcats living in landscape dominated by brush and field have a rusty colored coat with black spots, while those living in rocky terrain sport a paler gray or tawny coat. The tufts of fur that sprout from the tips of their ears serve as antennae. This allows them to hear the slightest sound.

Bobcats do not dig their own dens; rather, they prefer to make a home in a crevice or cave. If such accommodations are not available, the bobcat will den in a dense thicket of brush or a hollowed out log. The female bobcat maintains the territorial boundaries with scent, ground scrapes and scratches on trees and posts– so watch out! You might not be aware of it, but a bobcat could be watching you when you take your next hike in the woods.