A few years ago on a sunny autumn afternoon near Chip Ross Park in Corvallis, I had a rare wildlife encounter.  My husband and I were taking a break from our hike to share a snack beside a small stream, and suddenly from out of the thick underbrush, a bobcat leapt onto the trail 30 feet in front of us.  We were so stunned that we could only manage a quick look at each other, and then back at the bobcat, our eyes fixed widely on it as it slowly crossed the trail.  We watched the sleek and graceful hunter pad silently by, unaware of our presence for several seconds until it abruptly turned its head in our direction.  Wide-eyed and frozen mid-stride, it looked as shocked as we had been just moments before.  Movement returned as we grabbed for our camera and stood up.  The bobcat immediately began to flee, and true to his adventurous spirit, my husband took off after him (note: this is not recommended).  Two things resulted from the great chase that followed, (1.) we witnessed how fast a bobcat can run when pursued by an excited, camera-toting guy in shorts, and (2.) the only photos we came away with require a magnifying glass and a good imagination to see anything at all.

What we did come away with that day was a new appreciation of the bobcat, a beautiful and elusive animal that Oregonians rarely ever get to see.  With their secretive behavior, solitary lifestyle, and excellent camouflage, they usually remain hidden from view. 

Bobcats frequently roam and hunt during daylight hours, but are most active from dusk to dawn.  They primarily inhabit scrubby country and forestlands, but can adapt well to rocky and brushy desert areas, farmlands, and even swamps.  Found only in North America, their range is spottily distributed from coast to coast, and from southern Canada into Mexico.  Bobcats can be found in all of the western states, but are scarce or absent in most of the central and lower Midwest.

The bobcat’s scientific name is Felis rufus.  In Latin, felis means cat, and rufus means red or reddish.  The common name of “bobcat” undoubtedly comes from the stubby or “bobbed” tail, which reaches a maximum length of only 4-7 inches.  The tip of a bobcat’s tail is black above and white below, which distinguishes it from the tail of a Lynx (a similar species), which is entirely black at the tip.  A bobcat’s coloration can vary in shade from a reddish-brown to a tawny-gray, with some individuals having dark spots or bars on the body and black lines on the face, and others having less distinct markings.  A bobcat’s ears are slightly tufted, tipped in black, and usually have a white patch on the backside.  Bobcats have strong and compact bodies, muscular legs, and large paws with sharp, retractable claws.  Male bobcats grow larger than females and generally weigh 16-57 pounds and are 18-50 inches in length, while females range from 8-33 pounds and are 22-43 inches in length.

Male and female bobcats are not found together except during courtship and mating periods.  Mating generally takes place in the spring, and females give birth to a litter of 1-7 (usually 2 or 3) kittens in a den, hollow log, or rocky crevice after a gestation period of approximately 62 days.  All care and protection of the kittens is provided by the female.

The home range of an individual bobcat can vary from less than one square mile to 25 square miles or more.  The smallest home ranges occur in areas of good habitat and where food is abundant.  Bobcats predominantly prey on small mammals (such as rabbits, squirrels and mice) and birds, but larger animals such as deer are sometimes hunted.  When caught, small prey items are consumed immediately, and larger kills are cached and revisited.  If prey is scarce, bobcats will occasionally feed on carrion.

The status of the bobcat has changed since Oregon was first settled.  Early pioneers viewed the animal as a threat, and beginning in 1843, bounties were established.  By the 1930’s the bobcat population had dropped significantly, and through the late 1960’s it continued to decline.  In response, the Oregon legislature repealed the state bounty in 1961.  In 1967, the legislature changed the status of the bobcat to a “furbearer”, with the population managed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Today, the bobcat population in Oregon is considered healthy and relatively stable.

Bobcats are not considered a danger to people, and even though you may live and/or recreate in prime bobcat territory, it is unlikely that you will ever see one.  However, if you are lucky enough to encounter a bobcat in its natural habitat, please use good judgment and enjoy the rare and remarkable sight.  

To view a bobcat photo, please visit our Wildlife Photos page.

References: “The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals”, as well as several online sources including the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife site, www.dfw.state.or.us, served as data sources for this feature.