Rarely seen but surprisingly numerous, the bobcat (Lynx rufus) prowls most of Pennsylvania's woods throughout much of the state. Predominantly staying out of sight, when it is seen the bobcat is sometimes mistaken for the common housecat or a mountain lion. About twice the size of a housecat, the distinct stubby tail gives the bobcat its common name. It can also be identified by the grey-brown fur marked with dark spots and stripes.
The bobcat is native to most of North America and is the only feline predator, aside from feral domestic cats, found in Pennsylvania. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, bobcats are considered a species of least concern because of their wide distribution, abundance, and stable population. Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) furbearer specialist Aaron Facka states that "a stable population would be the best way to describe the current situation" in Pennsylvania with some areas showing increasing numbers. Bobcats occupy most of the state with few or no bobcats found in the northwest and southeast corners of the state due to either high human populations and/or lack of suitable habitat.
According to Facka, "bobcats are carnivorous generalists that will eat a variety of food" including white-tailed deer, snowshoe hare, rabbits, squirrels, woodrats, and other medium-sized mammalian prey. Although they prefer to catch larger prey such as deer or hares as it increases the amount of food per effort used, they will resort to eating birds, snakes, and other small animals opportunistically. Bobcats will either hide and ambush passing prey or track and stalk prey.
Bobcats are crepuscular, meaning they are active in early morning from predawn to after sunrise and early evening from twilight to midnight. They are solitary animals, coming together only to mate and when females are with kits. Bobcats have territorial home ranges that vary in size based on location and sex, with males having an average home range of 16 square miles and females averaging 7 square miles. Females will have a litter of 1 to 6 kittens born in April or May and in some cases a second litter born in September. Kittens stay with their mother until their first winter or shortly after. Average lifespan for bobcats is approximately 7 years.
In terms of habitat, bobcats tend to prefer wooded areas, either deciduous or coniferous. In some parts of their range, they utilize shrublands, grasslands, swamps, and even deserts. According to Facka, "good habitat in Pennsylvania is usually going to occur in forested areas with good prey supplies" according to Facka. Bobcats utilize edge habitat between forests and fields to hunt for prey and utilize caves, tree-root cavities, brush piles, and burrows for protection and raising kits. In a study lead by PGC furbearer biologist Matt Lovallo, both male and female bobcats showed preference for broadleaf deciduous forests over other available habitat during summer and winter while females under-utilized herbaceous and unvegetated areas during those seasons.
According to Facka, the primary management tool for controlling the bobcat population in Pennsylvania is regulated hunting and trapping. Hunting and trapping of bobcats was banned from 1970 to 1999 due to concerns over a low population size. During this time, the PGC conducted field surveys to better understand bobcat distribution and populations. Bobcat harvest resumed in 2000 with a limited number of permits and has since expanded to an unlimited number of permits utilized over a 23-day season. Hunters and trappers are limited to a single bobcat annually and any harvested bobcat must be reported to the PGC. Season timing and lengths are selected carefully to minimize interference with breeding and reproduction says Facka. Using bobcat harvest numbers along with camera surveys, game warden reports, and road kills the PGC carefully monitors the bobcat population. During the 2019-2020 season the total state-wide bobcat harvest was 1,052.
Bobcats are incredibly elusive animals, and a bobcat sighting is a rare occurrence. You may be lucky enough to find a bobcat track, but even that is uncommon because of their preference for thick cover and rocky features. Most people will only ever see a bobcat on a trail camera picture or video. Bobcats are beautiful creatures for those who are fortunate enough to spot one.
