Predator Species
Found throughout the state in broken and brushy country,
the bobcat, sometimes called wildcat, while rarely seen, is Arizona's most
common wild feline. Usually an overall orange to gray in color with black
markings, these medium-sized cats have a length of from 2 to 2 ½ feet and weigh
between 12 and 30 pounds. The underparts are whitish, and small ear tufts are
usually present. The bobcat's most distinguishing characteristic, however, is
its short, 5- inch tail, which is always less than 1/4 of the length of its head
and body. This feature, coupled with the animal's black spotting, can be used to
distinguish bobcats from any other feline in Arizona, wild or domestic.
Natural History
Little is known about Arizona's bobcats. Their principal prey are cottontail
rabbits and jackrabbits, but they also take both smaller mammals such as pack
rats and larger mammals including the young of some big game species. Snakes and
lizards are also part of the bobcat's diet.
Bobcats require two years to mature and attain breeding age. The breeding season
in Arizona is poorly documented, but appears to be mostly in late winter or
early spring. The gestation period is from 50 to 60 days so that the one to
three young are usually born in spring or early summer. As in most cats, the
female raises the kittens alone, nursing them for two months before teaching
them to hunt on their own.
Hunting and Trapping History
Sport hunters report taking between 1,200 and 1,300 bobcats a year. Most of
these animals are taken while pursuing other game or by predator calling. This
harvest appears relatively stable when compared to the numbers of bobcats
trapped and tagged for export. Ten years ago the numbers of bobcats reportedly
harvested and trapped were about equal, and 20 years ago the number of bobcats
trapped was approximately seven times that taken by sport hunters. As recently
as 1987, the number of bobcats trapped was reported to exceed 6,500, and more
than 5,000 export tags were issued to trappers and fur dealers wanting to ship
bobcat pelts out of state. Fewer than 500 bobcats have reportedly been trapped
each year since 1994.
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Habitat