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BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary


Lynx rufus
Bobcat

 
Scientific Name: Lynx rufus (Schreber, 1777)
English Name: Bobcat
 
Classification / Taxonomy
Scientific Name - Concept Reference: Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Classification Level: Species
Species Group: Vertebrate Animal
Species Code: M-LYRU
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Animalia Craniata Mammalia Carnivora Felidae
   
Conservation Status / Legal Designation
Global Status: G5 (Apr 2016)
Provincial Status: S4 (Mar 2025)
BC List: Yellow
Provincial FRPA list:   
Provincial Wildlife Act:
COSEWIC Status:
SARA Schedule:
General Status Canada: 4 - Secure (2005)
   
Ecology & Life History
General Description:
Global Reproduction Comments: Breeds mid-winter through spring, or possibly at any time of year in some areas. Litter of 1-7 (usually 2-3) is born after 50-70 day gestation. In the south, reportedly may produce a second litter in early August. Both parents feed young while kits are in den. Young are weaned at about 2 months, stay with mother until early fall. First breeds usually at 1-2 years.
Global Ecology Comments: Recorded population densities: 4-5 per 100 sq km in California, Idaho, and Minnesota; about 25/100 sq km in Arizona; 115-153/100 sq km in California; 500/100 sq km in Florida (Kitchener 1991, Jones and Smith 1979, Jackson 1961). Low natural mortality rate in adults. Solitary except when breeding. Populations may be limited by coyote predation in the western U.S. (see Caire et al. 1989).

In Mississippi, home ranges of deceased male and female resident bobcats were filled by transients or neighboring residents of the same sex; replacement bobcats used similar home ranges (and in some cases core areas) as the residents they replaced (Benson et al. 2004).
Migration Characteristics:
(Global / Provincial)		 
    Nonmigrant:
    Local Migrant:
    Distant Migrant:
    Within Borders Migrant: 		Y /
N /
N /
na /
Global Migration Comments: Home range generally is less than 100 sq km, often much less; male range is larger than female range (e.g., Lovallo and Anderson 1996). Commonly covers 3-11 km on a hunt (Handley 1991).

Home ranges in Louisiana about 5 square kilometers for males and 1 square kilometer for females (Hall and Newsom 1978). In Idaho, home ranges averaged 42 square kilometers for males and 19 square kilometers for females (Bailey 1974).
Habitats:
(Type / Subtype / Dependence) 		Agriculture / Cultivated Field / Facultative - occasional use
Agriculture / Hedgerow / Facultative - occasional use
Agriculture / Pasture/Old Field / Facultative - occasional use
Alpine/Tundra / Krummholtz / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Conifer Forest - Dry / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Conifer Forest - Mesic (average) / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Conifer Forest - Moist/wet / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Deciduous/Broadleaf Forest / Facultative - frequent use
Riparian / Gravel Bar / Facultative - frequent use
Riparian / Riparian Forest / Facultative - frequent use
Riparian / Riparian Herbaceous / Facultative - frequent use
Riparian / Riparian Shrub / Facultative - frequent use
Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Cliff / Facultative - occasional use
Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Facultative - occasional use
Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Talus / Facultative - occasional use
Global Habitat Comments: Various habitats including deciduous-coniferous woodlands and forest edge, hardwood forests, swamps, forested river bottomlands, brushlands, deserts, mountains, and other areas with thick undergrowth. Large tracts of habitat are most favorable. Primarily terrestrial. When inactive, occupies rocky cleft, cave, hollow log, space under fallen tree, etc.; usually changes shelter daily. Young are born in a den in a hollow log, under a fallen tree, in a rock shelter, or similar site.
Food Habits: Carnivore: Adult, Immature
Global Food Habits Comments: Prefers small mammals, especially lagomorphs. Occasionally birds, other vertebrates, and carrion.
Global Phenology: Crepuscular: Adult, Immature
Nocturnal: Adult, Immature
Global Phenology Comments: Mainly nocturnal/crepuscular, sometimes diurnal in winter.
Provincial Phenology:
(1st half of month/
2nd half of month)
Colonial Breeder: N
Length(cm)/width(cm)/Weight(g): 125/ / 12000
Elevation (m) (min / max): Global: 
Provincial: 
   
 
Distribution
Endemic: N
Global Range Comment: Central Mexico north through much of the contiguous U.S. to southern Canada. There has been a reduction in range, primarily in the northern part, associated with agriculture and the removal of forests (McCord and Cardoza 1982).
 
Authors / Contributors
Global Information Author: Hammerson, G.
Last Updated: Mar 04, 2005
Provincial Information Author:
Last Updated:
   
References and Related Literature
Anderson, E. M. 1987. A critical review and annotated bibliography of literature on the bobcat. Colorado Div. Wildl. Spec. Rep. 62. 68 pp.
Baker, R. H. 1983. Michigan mammals. Michigan State University Press. 642 pp.
Banfield, A. W. F. 1974. The mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. 438 pp.
Blackwell, B. H., et al. 1991. Radio harness system for bobcat kittens. Great Basin Nat. 51:343-347.
Caire, W., J. D. Tyler, B. P. Glass, and M. A. Mares. 1989. Mammals of Oklahoma. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. Oklahoma. 567 pp.
Fuller, T. K., W. E. Berg, and D. W. Kuehn. 1985. Bobcat home range size and daytime cover-type use in northcentral Minnesota. J. Mamm. 66:568-571.
Godin, A. J. 1977. Wild mammals of New England. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 304 pp.
Hall, E. R. 1981a. The Mammals of North America, second edition. Vols. I & II. John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York. 1181 pp.
Hamilton, W. J., Jr., and J. O. Whitaker, Jr. 1979. Mammals of the eastern United States. Cornell Univ. Press, Ithaca, New York. 346 pp.
Handley, C. O., Jr. 1991. Mammals. Pages 539-616 in K. Terwilliger, coordinator. Virginia's endangered species: proceedings of a symposium. McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Hatler, D.F., Nagorsen, D.W. and Beal, A.M., 2008. Carnivores of British Columbia (Vol. 5). Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Royal BC Museum.
Hoffmeister, D. F. 1986. Mammals of Arizona. University of Arizona Press and Arizona Game and Fish Department. 602 pp.
Jackson, H. H. 1961. Mammals of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 504 pp.
Jones, J. K., Jr., R. S. Hoffman, D. W. Rice, C. Jones, R. J. Baker, and M. D. Engstrom. 1992a. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 1991. Occasional Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech University, 146:1-23.
Jones, J.H., and N.S. Smith. 1979. Bobcat density and prey selection in central Arizona. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 43(3):666-672.
Kitchener, A. 1991. The natural history of the wild cats. Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell Univ. Press, Ithaca. xxi + 280 pp.
Lariviere, S., and L. R. Walton. 1997. LYNX RUFUS. Mammalian Species (563):1-8.
Litvaitus, J. A., J. T. Major, and J. A. Sherburne. 1987. Influence of season and human-induced mortality on spatial organization of bobcats (FELIS RUFUS) in Maine. J. Mamm. 68:100-106.
Lovallo, M. J., and E. M. Anderson. 1996. Bobcat (Lynx rufus) home range size and habitat use in northwest Wisconsin. American Midland Naturalist 135:241-252.
Miller, S. D. and D. W. Spenke. 1978. Status of the bobcat: an endangered species? Proc. Pages 145-153 in Odom,R., and L. Landers, eds. Rare & Endangered Wildl. Sympos., GA Dept. Nat. Res., Game & Fish Div., Tech. Bull. WL4.
Rollings, C.T. 1945. Habits, foods and parasites of the bob-cat in Minnesota. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 9(2):131-145.
Schwartz, C. W., and E. R. Schwartz. 1981. The wild mammals of Missouri. University of Missouri Press, Columbia. 356 pp.
Sikes, R. S., and M. L. Kennedy. 1992. Morphologic variation of the bobcat (Felis rufus) in the eastern United States and its association with selected environmental variables. Am. Mild. Nat. 128:313-324.
Toweill, D.E. 1979. Bobcat populations, a review of available literature. Special Report, Oregon Dept. of Fish. and Wildlife. 28 pp.
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Young, S.P. 1958. The Bobcat of North America: its history, life habits, economic status and control, with list of currently recognized subspecies. Washington. 193 pp.
Young, S.P. and H.H.T. Jackson. 1978. The bobcat of North America -- its history, life habits, economic status and control, with list of currently recognized subspecies. 193 pp.
 

Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.

Suggested Citation:

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2005. Species Summary: Lynx rufus. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 10, 2026).