Bobcat

wild cat · North America · skilled hunter

Spotted coat and tufts. Bobcats have reddish-brown fur covered with dark spots and distinctive black tufts on the tips of their ears. These tufts help them communicate with other bobcats and may help them hunt by improving their hearing.

Wide range across continents. Bobcats live across North America, from southern Canada all the way down through the United States to Mexico. They're so adaptable that they thrive in forests, deserts, mountains, and even swamps.

Excellent hunters. Bobcats are carnivores that hunt rabbits, squirrels, birds, and other small animals using stealth and speed. They can leap up to 10 feet in a single bound to catch their prey.

Stable and thriving. Even though bobcats have been hunted for their fur for a very long time, their populations have stayed fairly healthy overall. They're listed as Least Concern because there are so many of them spread across such a wide area.

Mostly solitary hunters. Bobcats prefer to live and hunt alone rather than in groups, coming together only during mating season. Each bobcat marks its own territory to keep other bobcats away.