Bobcats In Tennessee
Bobcat Facts:
Average litter 2-4 kittens
Kittens weigh 10-12 ounces at birth and are born blind and helpless. They will also nurse for about 60 days.
The bobcat's claws are retractable.
Adult bobcat tracks have an overall round appearance with four round toe pads in both front and rear prints.
They are typically quiet but may give high-pitched screams or low growls. During breeding season bobcats become more vocal.
Ledges and rock outcroppings are important terrain features in bobcat habitat.
Excellent runners, climbers and swimmers.
Excellent vision and hearing along with a good sense of smell.
Den in hollow logs, caves, brush piles and rock crevices.
Females may line den with dry leaves, moss, or grass.
Bobcats are territorial and have large home ranges.
Most active just after dark and before dawn.
Very secretive, solitary and seldom seen by humans.
Compared to other wildlife species they rarely cause conflicts with human activities.
Not a significant vector of disease.
Physical Characteristics of Bobcats
- Average size 24-40 inches long.
- Average weight 10-40 lbs.
- Bobcats tail much shorter than that of a domestic cat, tail is about five inches long.
- The bobcat's hair is short and dense.
- The back of the bobcat can be colored reddish brown buff to gray.
- The underbelly is white with black spots; several black bars line the inside of the fore legs. The tail is the same color as the back; several faint dark bands line the tail and become more distinct at the tip. The underside of tail is whitish.
Bobcat Eating Habits
- Strictly carnivorous the bobcat prey upon rabbits, rodents, birds and deer
- Bobcats waste considerable meat and kill more than they can eat.
- Cache their food: cover kills with leaves and grass for future consumption.
