Bobcats
Scientific Name: Lynx rufus
Habitat
Bobcats live in almost every state in the U.S. They are, however, less common in the states Tennessee, Vermont, Iowa, Nebraska, Maryland, and Delaware. Bobcats are also pretty common in Northern Mexico and some parts of Canada. They live up in the mountains and in areas with forests and/or lots of trees.
Diet
Bobcats eat a variety of things. Here's a list: small rodents, deer, snowshoe hare, rabbits, cotton rats, cottontails, squirrels, birds, fish, insects, and mice. They sometimes feed on minks, foxes, skunks, small dogs, domestic cats, and occasionally poultry or livestock.
Description
Bobcats are about twice the size of your common household cat. However, the bobcats that live in the United States. They have almond-shaped eyes, good for hunting, and pointed ears that are outlined with black hair. Their coats are generally a tan to grayish brown with a cascade of black stripes and spots, which cubs are born with. Also, their lips and chin are usually an off-white color. They have four legs and paws with sharp claws on each foot. They also have relatively sharp teeth for eating their prey. Also, bobcats have a very different tail. You may think that they don't even have one at first glance, but as it turns out, they do. It's just bobbed, or very short, hence the bobcat's name.
Description
There aren't any real different types of bobcats, but there are twelve different sub species. They are the Schreber, Bangs, Peterson & Downing, Merriam, Mearns, J.A. Allen, Rafinesque, Refinesque, Goodwin, Thomas, Mearns, and Merriam. I know that there are some repeats in the list, but that is because they're the same species and just live in different parts of the world and have different scientific names.
Fun Facts
- When bobcats roar or growl, it is so deep and rough that they are often mistaken for a mountain lion.
- Most bobcats do not have an accurate sense of smell, making it a little harder for them to hunt.
- If a bobcat feels it is in danger, it will stay in it's home for days at a time.
- Bobcats are excellent swimmers, even though they don't like to.
- Bobcats are known to live a solitary lifestyle, and they don't like trespassers on their territory.