Bobcats are seasonally polyestrous and probably spontaneous ovulators,

experiencing up to three estrous cycles between March and June if not

impregnated during one of the ovulations (Crowe 1975). However, early

researchers assumed bobcats were induced ovulators and there is some

evidence to support this contention. Male bobcats possess a barbed penis and

engage in repeated coitus, both characteristics of induced ovulators (Merher

1975). Evidence clearly indicates that female bobcats can ovulate without the

stimulation of the male, but coitus may induce or hasten ovulation (Anderson and

Lovallo 2003). The majority of bobcat breeding occurs during February and

March, however, breeding can occur at any time because litters have been

reported in every month (Duke 1954; Young 1958; Gashwiler et al. 1961; Fritts

1973; Crowe 1975). The breeding season for bobcats probably varies with

latitude, longitude, altitude, climate, photoperiod, and prey availability (McCord

and Cardoza 1982).

Habitat Selection

In general, any habitat that supports abundant prey in terms of leporids and other

small mammals, and is suitable for hunting by either ambush or stalking, is

suitable for bobcats. This generalization is supported by the broad distribution of

the species in the United States, which includes forested bottomlands of the

southeast, arid deserts regions of the southwest, boreal forests of Minnesota,

tropical regions of Florida and montane habitats in the Rocky Mountains

(Anderson and Lovallo 2003). In Utah, bobcat habitat selection has been

characterized by 2 separate research efforts (Karpowitz 1981; Blackwell 1991;

Appendix I). Karpowitz (1981) characterized bobcat habitat selection in the

Wasatch Mountains and found that pinyon-juniper and mountain brush vegetative

3

types were preferred, and also reported that cliffs and rocks were important

components of bobcat habitat. The preference for rocky habitats was believed to

be important for providing escape terrain for evading coyotes. Blackwell (1991)

studied bobcat habitat selection in the Sheeprock and Tintic mountains and

determined that pinyon-juniper mixed with sagebrush, closed pinyon-juniper

communities and riparian zones were preferred habitats.

Prey Selection

Bobcats are almost exclusively carnivores and most frequently kill prey that

weighs between 1.5 and 12 lbs (Anderson and Lovallo 2003). Throughout most

of their range, rabbits and hares are the most important prey items, sometimes

exceeding 90% of their diet (Bailey 1979; Parker and Smith 1983). However,

there are regional variations. In the northern portion of the range, snowshoe

hare and white-tailed deer predominate bobcat diets (Nussbaum and Maser

1975; Berg 1979; Parker and Smith 1983). In the southeast, cotton rats may

constitute the majority of the diet (Knight 1962; Beasom and Moore 1977; Miller

and Speake 1979). In western Washington, the mountain beaver makes up the

majority of bobcat diets (Knick et al. 1984). In Utah, Blackwell (1991) found that

78.6% of bobcat scats collected in the Sheeprock and Tintic mountains contained

the remains of desert cottontails. Other prey items found in the scats included

deer mice, great basin pocket mice, wood rats, chipmunks and mule deer.

Behavior and Home Range

Bobcats are essentially solitary with brief, infrequent social interactions. The

exceptions to this generalization are females with kittens and adult males and

females during breeding season. Three social classes seem to exist in all

populations, including residents, transients and kittens. Most adults are

considered residents and generally remain in a home range or territory.

Transients are generally yearlings dispersing from their natal home ranges

(Bailey 1974; Rolley 1983).

Estimates of bobcat home range sizes vary widely among studies and range

from 0.4 mi2 to 26.9 mi2 for females and 1.0 mi2 to 53.5 mi2 for males. However,

there are several consistent generalizations that have been discovered. Home

ranges in northern latitudes are considerably larger than those in the south. Male

home ranges are generally 2-3 times larger than those of females. Home range

size seems to be most strongly correlated to prey abundance (Anderson and

Lovallo 2003). In Utah, Karpowitz (1981) reported home range sizes of 6.3 mi2

for female and 8.7 mi2 for male bobcats in the Wasatch Mountains. Daily

movement distances also vary widely by region, sex, weather conditions and

individuals (Anderson and Lovallo 2003).

4

 

Competitive Interactions

The most significant and influential competitors of bobcats are coyotes. Coyotes

often use the same habitats and utilize the same prey as bobcats. Buskirk et al.

(2000) hypothesized that coyotes have a significant ecological advantage over

bobcats due to their larger size, broader diet, wider habitat niche, higher

reproductive rates, wider behavioral plasticity and higher human tolerance.

Litvaitis and Harrison (1989) reported that a sharp decline in bobcat harvest in

Maine was highly correlated with a dramatic increase in coyote populations.

Likewise, a 3-year experiment in western Texas in which coyote populations

were artificially reduced led to increases in bobcat and rodent populations,

whereas no similar population changes were observed in a control area (Henke

and Bryant 1999). In addition to coyotes, Cougars have been documented killing

bobcats. For Example, Blackwell (1991) found an instance where a cougar killed

and mostly consumed a radio-collared bobcat, and a female with kittens reduced

her activity to portions of her home range with rocks and crevices in seeming

response to the presence of a resident cougar, which also had kittens.

 

MANAGEMENT HISTORY IN UTAH Heather Hill

History

Prior to the 1970s, bobcats were classified as predators (non-protected wildlife)

and therefore not under the jurisdiction of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

(UDWR). Bounties were offered on bobcats in Utah from the late 1800s to 1975,

with the greatest number of bounties, 4,396, occurring in 1969 and again in 1970

(Stiver 1982). Historically, bobcats had little economic importance, with an

average pelt price of only $5.00 between 1950 and 1970 (Anderson 1987).

During the 1970s, bobcat harvest and average pelt price increased dramatically

in the United States. With this increased demand, the bobcat trade came under

heavy fire during the 1970s and early 1980s. In 1973, UDWR began attempts to

gain management authority over bobcats, and met strong opposition by

agricultural and livestock interests hoping to reduce loss caused by predators.

UDWR and sportsmen successfully achieved a moratorium on bobcat trapping in

Utah in 1976.

 

License Requirements

New regulations were also implemented in 1979 when bobcats received

protection in Utah. Any person intending to harvest bobcat were required to

obtain possession tags from UDWR and check-in each pelt to have a permanent

CITES tags affixed, as well as surrender the lower jaw. A bobcat season was

also implemented, restricting the take of bobcats to a fixed-length season. In

1982, UDWR added bobcat to its annual fur harvest questionnaire. This

questionnaire included questions about bobcat harvest and trapping effort by

county, as well as questions to collect fur harvester suggestions on management

decisions.