Territorial but rarely a threat, they’re back and still protected BOBCATSSFlbIN OHIO
By Theresa Semchee
Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist
The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is one of seven feral cat species found in North America and native to Ohio.
It would be a rare sighting here in Northeast Ohio, though.
For many years, they had disappeared from our state, but they are officially back.
Because of the large amount of unoccupied, suitable forested habitat in the southeast Ohio counties, the sightings have increased and are expected to continue as the population increases in abundance and distribution.
Wildlife biologists recently have proposed removing the animal from the state’s threatened species list. They would still be considered a protected species in Ohio, with no hunting or trapping allowed.
These beautiful cats are elusive and prefer to live in dense wooded areas. They have lost a lot of their preferred habitat due to human development; hence, we are experiencing more sightings throughout the state.
The bobcat looks like a large house cat to some. It has a gray to brown coat, whiskered face and black tufted ears. It has distinctive black bars on its forelegs and a black, tipped, stubby tail, from which it gets its name. They are about twice the size of the average house cat, weighing between 13 and 30 pounds.
The bobcat’s prey depends on habitat, location and season. They prefer hares and rabbits, but will hunt insects, chicken, geese, small birds, small rodents, fish, amphibians, reptiles and deer. They generally lie in wait for their prey and then pounce. A prey pursuit rarely extends more than 60 feet.
Bobcats are carnivores, so are not likely to be a visitor to our backyard gardens. They may, however, be attracted to the area around bird feeders because of the birds and small rodents that accumulate there.
In our crop fields and orchards, they also would be attracted to the rodents and deer. But again, the bobcat in this part of Ohio is not a likely threat to anything or anyone. It is a solitary animal and is territorial.
The adult females have an extremely low tolerance for other adult females in her home range. The males are more tolerant of other males.
Breeding can occur at any time, but is usually from December through May. Gestation is 63 days.
When available, the female will use an outcropping of rock as a den. Litters range from one to six kittens, but two is average.
Bobcats have one litter per year but will produce a second if the first is lost.
The young are fully weaned at eight weeks and will go out on their own in the fall and late winter.
To learn more about the real bobcats in Ohio, go to http://go.osu.edu/bobcat.