Are There Bobcats in Illinois?

Twice the size of a normal house cat, the bobcat is small compared to a mountain lion but is just as deadly a predator. Along with species such as the wolf, coyote and bear, bobcats are one of North America's top mammalian predators. In some areas the animals are hunted for their prized furs.

  1. Description

    • The bobcat physically looks similar to a large house cat. It grows to 4 feet in length, nose to tail, almost 2 feet tall at the shoulder and can weigh up to 30 lbs. The cat has thick fur which can range from brown to dark brown with black tips to the tail and ears. It has noticeable tufts to the ear tips and at the sides of the face, giving it a larger facial appearance.

    Habitat and Range

    • In the mid 1900s, the bobcat was made locally extinct in Illinois due to hunting. During the late 1970s through to the late 1990s, the species was protected in the state and has reestablished itself. As of 2011, it is a common species throughout Illinois. It is also the most common wildcat in North America and is found in a wide range of habitats from forests and deserts to scrub land. The hunting and trapping of the bobcat is illegal in Illinois.

    Diet and Predators

    • The bobcat is an efficient stalking and ambush predator, using its coat to camouflage itself while crawling close to prey. Once within 3 yards of the animal, the bobcat can leap forward, pouncing on the prey and trapping it beneath its claws. It can kill animals larger than itself, such as small deer, but mainly feeds on rodents, birds, reptiles and occasionally domestic fowl such as chicken and ducks. Other than hunters, the bobcat has few predators but young cats can be at risk from coyotes, foxes and large owls.

    Life Cycle

    • The bobcat is a solitary animal, usually only encountering other cats during the early spring mating season. Both male and female bobcats reach mating age at around two years old. Pregnancies last between 60 and 70 days before a litter of up to three kittens is born. The female looks after the kittens for around eight months, letting them strike out on their during early winter. In the wild, bobcats live an average of 10 to 12 years.