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Bobcat
Lynx rufus

History
The two male bobcats came to the museum in December 2009 from the National Bobcat Research and Rehabilitation Center in Texas. Caro was born in February 2009 and survived a near-fatal bout with pneumonia as a kitten. Frankie was born in May 2009 and has a neurological disorder that causes him to have unusual motor movements. Both bobcats were sufficiently imprinted on humans or in sub-optimal physical shape so that they could not be released into the wild.

Life Span
In the Wild: 10 to 15 years.
In Captivity: Up to 30 years.

Habitat
Forests, semi-desert, chaparral and mountains. Bobcats sleep in hidden dens, hollow trees, thickets or rocky crevices.

Range
North America from southern Canada to southern Mexico.

Conservation Status
Species of Special Concern. There are probably almost one million bobcats living in the United States. In some areas they are quite rare, while in others they have stable and sometimes dense populations. Hence some states allow regulated hunting, while in others they are protected. A 1975 ban on international trade in pelts of other spotted cats (ocelot, leopards, etc.) accelerated the demand for bobcat fur. The annual harvest of bobcats is regulated. The far more serious threat to bobcats is the change in their habitat, as a result of human population growth and our demands on the environment.

Bobcats are listed in CITES Appendix II. CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international governmental agreement designed to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Appendix II lists species that may become threatened with extinction unless trade is closely controlled.