Bobcats are magnificent mammals. Here are 7 fast facts about them.

1. Found from southern Canada to Mexico, including all 48 contiguous states except one (sorry, Delaware!), bobcats (Lynx rufus) are the most common and abundant wild cats in North America. However, many people never see one, as they are quite secretive and are usually more active from dusk to dawn.

2. Bobcats are superb at hiding and stalking, making them excellent hunters. They don’t do high-speed chases. Instead, they typically hunt from ground level, quietly stalking prey. Large paws help in jumping, climbing and staying quiet. Large ears and prominent ear tufts help bobcats hear extremely well. They can hear small animals moving in grasses, under snow or in leaf litter, and they can also see well, relying less on scent for hunting.

3. Bobcat moms typically give birth in spring or early summer to three kittens (after about a two-month pregnancy), and, like most other cats, they take care of their young with no help from the father. Bobcat mothers usually have several dens and move around with their kittens to keep them safe. Not staying in one place too long keeps the bobcats’ scent from getting too strong and attracting predators. Dens might be inside hollow trees, in caves, under large rocks or in thick vegetation. The kittens stay with mom for eight months to a year, eventually learning how to hunt and what to eat.

4. Adult bobcats are solitary and territorial, and tolerate each other only during mating, which typically occurs in winter and spring.

5. Bobcats live in a wide range of habitats, from deserts to forests and swamps.

6. Bobcats may travel up to 7 miles in one evening as they search for food and patrol their territory. They need a large area to live, as ranges extend up to 20 square miles or more for males.

7. Like other cats, bobcats are carnivores (meat-eaters) and prefer small mammals like rabbits and rodents. They also hunt small reptiles and amphibians, birds and even insects. Eggs are fair game, as are the remains of deer and other animals.

Visit Scoutlife.org to learn more about bobcats:
https://scoutlife.org/outdoors/181402...