Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
By Cindy Murray, Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area
By Cindy Murray, Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area
Some of our Crooked River Ranch neighbors get surprise visitors peering in their glass doors or perhaps inside their chicken coops helping themselves to breakfast! The bobcat is about twice the size of our domestic cats and easy to recognize by it’s short “bobbed” tail. Bobcats are reclusive, live solitary lives and can be found throughout Oregon. They will rest and hide in large brush piles, hollow trees or under logs and jumbled rocks.
Breeding season for bobcats starts in February and after about 60 days, two to four kittens will be born. Kittens are fully furred and start to open their eyes in about 9 days. They are dependent on mom until around Autumn and start to establish their solitary independence at one year of age. Like all other felids, bobcats eat only meat and will hunt wood rats, squirrels, rabbits, mice and occasionally carrion. They are capable of killing fawns and will also forage for ground dwelling birds, such quail and grouse. Bobcats are mostly active morning and evenings but can appear on your deck any time of time day.
Bobcats can be hunted and trapped at designated times of the year, with a permit but must be reported to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Beware of traps placed too close to walking trails and near the rivers. DO NOT FEED WILDLIFE OR YOU MAY FIND A BOBCAT IN YOUR BACK YARD!
Breeding season for bobcats starts in February and after about 60 days, two to four kittens will be born. Kittens are fully furred and start to open their eyes in about 9 days. They are dependent on mom until around Autumn and start to establish their solitary independence at one year of age. Like all other felids, bobcats eat only meat and will hunt wood rats, squirrels, rabbits, mice and occasionally carrion. They are capable of killing fawns and will also forage for ground dwelling birds, such quail and grouse. Bobcats are mostly active morning and evenings but can appear on your deck any time of time day.
Bobcats can be hunted and trapped at designated times of the year, with a permit but must be reported to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Beware of traps placed too close to walking trails and near the rivers. DO NOT FEED WILDLIFE OR YOU MAY FIND A BOBCAT IN YOUR BACK YARD!
