The Bobcat (Lynx rufus), or Gato montés in Spanish, can be found in a number of different habitats like woodlands, forests, deserts, mountains, and riparian areas. Male bobcats are solitary mammals found throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and only interact with females during the mating season. They are mostly nocturnal but active during dusk. They are good climbers and are very territorial, using urine, feces, and liquid from glands near their tail to mark their home range.  

Bobcats are strictly carnivores preying on small mammals. Rodents, ground-nesting birds, and rabbits make up the majority of their diet.

To learn more about bobcats, please visit the Defenders of Wildlife.

CREDIT: Jason Reinier, Earprint Productions

PHOTO CREDIT: Pacific Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service