Captured Bobcat
Tucson,
Arizona
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Bobcats
Bobcats
are another species of predator that is highly adaptable and ranges
throughout most of the continental United States.
In
Arizona they are equally at home from the lowlands of the Sonoran
Desert to the pine and fir covered mountains of the higher
elevations. As with their main competitor and sometimes
nemesis,
the coyote, they are quite capable of living adjacent to human
habitation.
Despite
the fact that they
are common wildlife species, few people ever see one because
of
their elusive nature. Adult bobcats usually weigh between 15
and
35 pounds, and are 2 to 3 feet long, including a 5 to 6 inch
tail.
Their coloration on top ranges from gray-brown or reddish to almost
steel blue, with dark spots dappling the fur and providing an effective
camouflage pattern. The belly fur is white with
black
spots. The underside of the tail is also white and there are
distinctive white spots on the backs of the ears.
Bobcats
are solitary creatures except when breeding, which can take
place
at any time during the year although it generally occurs from January
to March. Litters of 2-4 kittens are born after a 50-60 day
gestation period.
The
preferred prey of
bobcats includes cottontail rabbits, wood rats, and jackrabbits, with
other small rodents, birds, reptiles, and occasionally deer rounding
out the diet. Bobcats can and do take poultry, domestic
sheep,
and goats when the opportunity presents itself. Bobcats
occasionally harvest free roaming pets such as house cats and
small dogs. They are armed with sharp, meat-hook claws and
impressive canine teeth that do the actual killing. Click
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