Bobcat Video March 06, 2007 8:53 AM

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid263790608/bclid269000809/bctid269000523

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Although bobcats are plentiful in some areas of the country, in parts of their former range they are less common. Defenders recently became involved in an effort to protect bobcats in the state of New Jersey where they are listed under state law as endangered. Please read on to learn more about this exciting new project and partnership.

For more information:

The New Jersey Bobcat Project

Historically, the bobcat roamed throughout the entire state of New Jersey. It first experienced declines in the mid-1800s as forests were cleared for lumber, fuel, agriculture and other uses. By the late 1970's they were considered to be extinct in the state.

In 1972, the species gained legal protection when it was classified as a game species with a closed season. In an effort to re-establish bobcat populations, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife captured 24 bobcats from Massachusetts and Maine and released them into the northern portion of the state between 1978 and 1982. In June of 1991, the bobcat was listed as an endangered species and given protection under the New Jersey State Endangered Species Act, where they remain.

The Division's Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) began capturing, collaring, and tracking bobcats in 1996 to determine their movements and which habitats were important to their survival. However, given the rampant rate of development throughout the state and the need to identify and protect rapidly diminishing suitable bobcat habitat, biologists must greatly intensify their efforts.

Bobcats use a wide variety of habitat types and occupy large home ranges that are relatively free from human habitation and alteration. They also require suitable travel corridors to allow for individuals to move between these parcels of land. In New Jersey, bobcats are found primarily in the northern counties of Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren.

In December 2004, Defenders of Wildlife began working with the Endangered and Nongame Species Program and their non-profit arm, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, to launch Phase Two of the New Jersey Bobcat Project. During Phase Two, wildlife biologists, with the help of volunteers, will increase the number of live cage traps and install motion sensitive and infra red cameras in areas of Warren, Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties where bobcats are known to exist. ENSP will also initiate efforts to determine bobcat distribution in other northern areas where bobcats may exist.

These valuable data will be incorporated into the New Jersey Landscape Project, an ecosystem-level approach to conservation begun by the Endangered and Nongame Species Program in 1994 and will help biologists create a protection and management strategy that focuses on preserving the most critical bobcat habitat.

Males are usually fertile by their first year, but females do not usually give birth to their first litter until they are two years old. Females normally produce just one litter per year. Because Bobcats are solitary animals, males and females spend only a few days of the year together -- during courtship and mating. Bobcats in captivity have been known to live as long as 25 years.

Young Bobcats appear as lovable and harmless domestic kittens, but because they are wild animals with the ability to inflict injury to humans, it is illegal to keep Bobcats as pets without special permits.

Until 1971 the Bobcat, like the Coyote, had been pursued and destroyed as an undesirable predator, and little thought was given to its status or welfare. It could be killed at any time and in any manner. With the international protection of the world's spotted cats, the fur trade turned to the North American Bobcat. Almost overnight the pelt of the Bobcat came into prominence as one of the most desirable and expensive furs that could be taken legally.

Because of the high value of the Bobcat's fur and the recent increase in the take by hunters and licensed fur trappers, the California Fish and Game Commission has imposed a wintertime trapping season to control the amount of time when Bobcat can be taken.

The Department of Fish and Game has initiated a number of studies throughout the state to determine density, home range, and territoriality of the bobcat and to determine details of population dynamics, including age and sex structure of bobcats so that management plans may regulate what has become a valuable commercial resource.

Description - The color of the bobcat is tawny (greyer in the winter) with indistinct black spotting. The tail is short and stubby with 2 or 3 black bars with a black tip above and pale or white below. The face has broken black lines which radiate onto the broad cheek ruff. Average weight is 15-35 pounds with the male being larger than the female.

Distribution - The bobcat primarily occurs in scrubby country and broken forests, but adapts to swamps, farmlands and arid lands if they are rocky or brushy. They are spottily distributed from coast to coast throughout southern Canada.

Biology - The litter ranges from 1-7 young who are born late April to early May. A second litter in one year is not uncommon. It is an excellent climber who often waits in the trees to pounce on their prey which includes rodents, hares, squirrels and birds; they also may take the occasional deer. Larger prey is cached and revisited. Predators of the bobcat include cougars, coyotes, wolves and humans, who use their fur for trim.

Tracks - The bobcat track is easily distinquished with a round shape, four toes and no claws evident. It is generally twice the size of a domestic cat's print and loosely resembles that of a coyote or dog but is more rounded. At greater speeds the toes of the front foot spread easier than that of the hind one which has a smaller ball pad.

Straddle: 11-12 cm (4.4 - 4.8 in)
Stride: 25 - 35 cm (10 - 14 in)
Track: 4.5 cm (1.8 in) long / 4.5 cm (1.8 in) wide

The most common wildcat in North America, the solitary bobcat—so named because of its short black, white-tipped tail—weighs up to 20 pounds, can reach nearly two feet in length, and heights of 2 - 3.5 feet. Despite a resemblance to the household cat, the bobcat is a fierce predator. Preferring rabbits to anything else, it will also prey on rodents, birds, raccoons, foxes, and even adult deer and domestic cats if that’s what is available.

The bobcat and the lynx have very similar markings. The easiest way to tell them apart is by size, the lynx being much larger than the bobcat.

The North American bobcat lives in all kinds of habitats, from the forests of New Jersey to the brush on the arid mountainsides of California; however, its preferred habitat is of the later type. Bobcats do stay away from metropolitan areas, but if there’s a ranch or a farm nearby, the bobcat is likely to view the farm animals as food.

This big, long-legged, bob-tailed cat, nearly a yard in length, is seldom seen because it usually sleeps away the daylight hours in some rocky ledge, hollow log or thicket, roaming abroad at night. On dark days one may be rarely glimpsed as it slips across a wilderness path. Actually, bobcats are quite widespread through southern Canada, much of the United States and Mexico; in the West they prefer rugged rimrock country; in the East, swamps; but bobcats sometimes live unnoticed at the edges of cities and near thickly settled areas. Rabbits are their main prey, which they catch by a stealthy pounce, seldom by pursuit.

©National Wildlife Federation®

Beautiful pictures, thanks!

Hugs,

Genie

These animals are so incredible & beautiful, I have always wanted a big cat, always though it would be so great , but I would not want to remove it from its home it wouldn't be fair to do that just to fill my want.

I love all the big cats they are just wonderful

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Hi,here's a videolink of the Bobcat ( incl. shots of a bobcat cub):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCO0gDb7ES0