Bobcats are about twice the size of a domestic cat. They are generally tan to yellowish brown with dark brown or black streaks. The under parts are usually white with black spots and the insides of the legs are marked with black bars. The bobcat’s ears are pointed with short, black tufts while the tail is short and gives the appearance of being "bobbed." The young have mottled or spotted fur with more distinct facial marking than the adults.
Widely distributed throughout Florida in deep forest, swamps, and hammock land. Thick patches of saw palmetto and dense shrub thickets are important as den and resting sites. In rural areas, bobcats can range five or six square miles and generally cover their territory in a slow, careful fashion. In urban to suburban areas, the range of territory usually decreases to 1 or 2 miles.
The female bobcat can breed after one year. In Florida, bobcats breed from August to March with the peak in February and March. One to four young are born after a gestation period (the period in which offspring are carried in the uterus) of 50 to 60 days.
An efficient hunter, the bobcat hunts by sight and usually at night. Seeing a bobcat during the day is not uncommon because they sleep for only 2 to 3 hours at a time. In Florida, squirrels, rabbits and rats are the primary prey species. Occasionally, a bobcat will take a feral cat or domestic chicken. Since Florida is an important wintering area for migrating birds, the bobcat's winter diet reflects this abundance and includes ground-dwelling birds such as towhees, robins, catbirds and thrashers.
Secure all possible food sources, including pet food and garbage. Do not directly feed bobcats or other wildlife. Even if a bobcat is not eating the food you put out for birds or other wildlife, feeding stations can concentrate prey species and draw predators to your property. Haze any bobcat that is seen in a community or near homes or livestock. Yell, use air horns or throw rocks towards but not at the bobcat to discourage the animal from being in an unwelcome place. Properly pen small livestock such as chickens and quail in enclosures that cannot be accessed by bobcats or other predators. Completely enclosed pens are best, to prevent animals from jumping or digging their way into an enclosure. Do not leave small domestic pets outdoors or on screened enclosures unattended and always walk dogs on leashes so they cannot run off or out of sight.
Removing one or more bobcats does not prevent others from moving into or using the same areas in the future. However, if a bobcat is a nuisance the animal can be captured or killed using legal and humane methods. All live-captured bobcats must be released alive, either at the capture site or on a property in the same county of capture that is 40 acres or larger. Written permission from the landowner must be obtained prior to release.
Information and photos are provided by: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Do you have a question, comment, or suggestion for Wildlife Removal Experts LLC? We would love to hear from you! You can reach us by phone, email, or through our online contact form.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.