Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

The bobcat is larger than a domestic cat but smaller than any of the other wild cats of the southwestern U.S. Though these animals hunt at night and are seldom seen, they are probably fairly common in scrublands or rocky terrain where their prey are numerous.

Bobcats hunt mainly rabbits and rodents. In length bobcats are about 33" with 5" being their stubby tail and they weigh 25-35 pounds when full grown. The mother bobcat spends many hours helping the kittens learn to hunt, first by bringing home practice prey for them, then by taking them with her on short night-time hunting trips.

The line drawings to the right are by Bob Savannah of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They are in the public domain and may be used for your reports or projects without specific permission from the USFWS. You should credit the Fish and Wildlife Service and give the artist's name. To see more animal illustrations by Bob Savannah go to http://pictures.fws.gov/lineart/bobsavannah/