Order: Carnivora, Family: Felidae
Appearance/Behavior: This medium-sized (48 – 125 cm), native cat is rusty brown with black spots above and has a lighter underside. Its cheeks bear sideburn-like projections (red arrow) and its ears are fringed in black, but are white along their back surface. The bobcat’s relatively short tail is tipped with black on its upper side (blue arrow) and is white below. A solitary individual was recorded.
Relative Frequency of Visitation in Study: Very infrequent, with only one encounter of this felid at the compost piles.
Seasonal Activity: Potentially year-round. The single record of this species was in late summer.
Daily Activity: Throughout the day, although the sole encounter was in the mid-afternoon.
Similar Species: The bobcat is typically larger than its relative, the domestic cat. Its legs are proportionately longer than those of a house cat. While the domestic cat has rather variable coloration and patterning of its pelage, the bobcat’s coat is consistently brown with spots. The bobcat’s characteristically stubby, black-tipped tail is rarely observed in its domestic relative.
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