Why bobcat, why not jimcat

Stalking silently, following its prey, waits for an opening and pounces. Goodbye mister cotton tail. After a good hunt the bobcat retreats to enjoy its meal. Bobcats are what they sound like, they’re cats, lynx cats. To be more specific they are felines or felidae depending if you're a scientist or not. They are not regular loving house cats, they are cold, hard predators. You have probably heard of bobcats and what they are based on where you live. Sneaky, wild, and dangerous are words to describe this beast but they are not bad, not at all. This is just how they evolved to be so they can survive and thrive.

Bobcats or a lynx, are medium sized cats. They can come in the colors of brown or grey. They also have blackish spots so they can blend into their surroundings. They can weigh from 11 to 30 lbs. They are mammals and carnivores meaning they only eat meat. Their lifespan is a short 10 to 12 years (Bobcat,n.d.). Their favorite food is rabbits and hares but also eat other animals like rodents, birds, bats, and even deer. Bobcats can mate at anytime but usually mate at the end winter with a litter of 1 to 6 kittens. They learn to hunt at 5 months and are kicked out of their den at only 8 to 11 months. After that they find their own den and hunt on their own. Mammals like rabbits are hunted by bobcats with camouflage. They are mavens at hunting. The color of the bobcat and it’s spots are used to blend in so the rabbit can easily be pounced by the bobcat. While hunting and mating is important, bobcats still need a place to live (Basic facts about bobcats, n.d.).

Bobcats live throughout America but also are located in different parts of Mexico and southern Canada. Northern United States however has the most bobcats in the world. Bobcats have no problem finding a habitat. They practically can live anywhere. For instance, they live in places like cliffs, half-deserts, mountains, swamps, and many more ecosystems. The main reason for this is the prey. Bobcats like to live in area with plenty of food. They also want a den that can provide a safe area to rest but also a place to flee from any enemy’s. Actually bobcats usually own more than one den. You can also be sure they will protect these dens considering they are very territorial animals. They make homes from tree stumps, thickets and bushes, caves, and logs, basically anywhere that is a good hiding spot, small, and comfortable. Sadly, bobcats have the risk of their habitats being destroyed. They are not endangered but their population is shrinking because of this (Bobcat habitat facts, n.d.). There are currently estimated to have 2 million to 3 million in the U.S. Luckily people like the “Defenders of Wildlife” are fighting to protect this glorious creature.

The IUCN are keeping an eye on bobcats so if they become endangered they can put them on the red list so they can be protected. Bobcats are complex creatures. We tend to stay away so we don’t know how they really act but surely they are not evil and dangerous like some people are lead to believe. They are just trying to survive like you and me, but in a more primitive way. Hopefully their population increases so these furry friends of ours can thrive and live good bobcat lives. Remember if you see a bobcat do not interfere but always know they are just big, wild, dangerous, furry, cuddly house cats.

Bobcat. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/b/bobcat/

Basic facts about bobcats. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.defenders.org/bobcat/bobcats

Bobcat habitat facts. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://animals.mom.me/bobcat-habitat-2766.html