Scattered reports of bobcats being seen or killed on roads continued throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and the species was listed as a state endangered species in June of 1991. Populations became isolated and plummeted. As forests were cleared for lumber, fuel and charcoal, and land was converted to agricultural use, bobcat habitat became fragmented. The greatest blow to the once large population was the massive deforestation that occurred here at the turn of the century. In New Jersey, European settlement brought hard times for bobcats they were hunted relentlessly, as were all of our large predators. Current Threats, Status, and Conservation A bobcat becomes independent of its mother at about 10-12 months of age, and lives 12-13 years in the wild. Later, she will bring live animals (like mice) back to the den, so the kittens can practice hunting. As the kittens are weaned, they begin eating meat that the mother brings back for them. The spotted kittens are weaned at about 12 weeks. They generally breed between February and June, and have a litter size of 1-6 young which are born after a gestation period of approximately 60 days. Life Cycleīobcats like to den in crevices in rocks, under fallen logs, or under the root mass of a fallen tree. The soft pads on their feet help them sneak up quietly on their prey. They have excellent vision and hearing, and use these senses most in hunting. They only eat about 3 pounds of meat at a time, so if they manage to catch a larger animal, they will drag it to a safe spot, cover it up, and return later to feed again. Dietīobcats prey on rabbits, rats, squirrels, ground-nesting birds, turkeys, and even small or sick deer. Today, the bobcat is listed as one of our state’s endangered species. ![]() Relentless hunting, rapid development, and massive deforestation since the turn of the century have led to its decline. They are absent in the highly cultivated areas of the northern mid-states, and were once widespread and common in New Jersey, probably occurring in all counties. The bobcat is restricted to North America, and found in coniferous and mixed forest in the north, swamp areas in and around Florida, and desert and scrubland in the southwestern United States. They are extremely shy animals that are rarely seen by humans. ![]() Generally they hunt both by night and day, although there is evidence to suggest that most hunting takes place at dawn and dusk. They possess slightly tufted ears and short bobbed tails (between three and seven inches long). Their fur ranges from yellowish brown to reddish brown and bears markings that vary from ‘tabby’ stripes to heavy spotting. The bobcat is a medium sized-cat, about two feet tall and weighting 20 pounds-larger than a housecat, but much smaller than a cougar or lion.
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