Bobcat
(Lynx rufus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5 - Secure SNR - Unranked |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description
The fur (pellage) is reddish-brown above, whitish on the belly, with spots and stripes throughout. The tail is short and black at the tip but only on the top. Ruffs on each side of the face give the appearance of sideburns. The ear tufts are short and inconspicuous.
Size
Head and body: 25″ to 40″
Tail: 3″ to 7″
Sign
Similar Species
Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is larger. The pelage is pale gray mixed with mixed with pale brown above. The belly is not spotted or striped. The tip of the tail is black, both above and below. The ruffs (sideburns) are more pronounced. The feet are large. The ear tufts are long and conspicuous. It is much less common.
Habitat
A wide variety of habitats including boreal coniferous and mixed forests, aspen forests, forested river bottomlands, brushlands, and cedar swamps
Ecology
Behavior
Lifespan
10 to 12 years
Life Cycle
Food
Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 12/1/2025). Timm, R. M. 1975. Distribution, natural history, and parasites of mammals of Cook County, Minnesota. Occasional Papers, Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota 14:1–56. Hazard, Evan B. 1982. The Mammals of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 280 pp. |
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| 12/1/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
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Taxonomy
Class
Subclass
Theria
Infraclass
Placentalia (Placental Mammals)
Magnorder
Boreoeutheria
Superorder
Laurasiatheria (Ungulates, Carnivorans, and Allies)
Order
Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Suborder
Feliformia
Infraorder
Aeluroidea
Superfamily
Feloidea
Family
Felidae (Felids)
Subfamily
Felinae (Small Cats)
Genus
Lynx (Lynxes)
Genus
This species was formerly named Felis rufus, placed in the genus with the domestic cat. A comprehensive review of the Family Felidae (Wozencraft, 1993) concluded that it should be moved to the genus Lynx due to physical similarities and behavioral traits.
Subordinate Taxa
A review of the bobcats in North America (Young, S. P. 1958) recognized 12 subspecies of what was then Felis rufus based on pelage coloration. A later study of the evolution of lynxes (Werdelin, L. 1981) recognized a thirteenth subspecies in Florida based on skull morphology.
Bailey bobcat (Lynx rufus baileyi) 
Californian bobcat (Lynx rufus californicus)
eastern bobcat (Lynx rufus rufus) 
Florida bobcat (Lynx rufus floridanus)
giant bobcat (Lynx rufus gigas)
Lake Superior bobcat (Lynx rufus superiorensis)
Mexican bobcat (Lynx rufus escuinapae)
Mojave bobcat (Lynx rufus mohavensis) ?
northern bobcat (Lynx rufus pallescens)
northwestern bobcat (Lynx rufus fasciatus)
Oaxaca bobcat (Lynx rufus oaxacensis)
peninsula bobcat (Lynx rufus peninsularis)
Texan bobcat (Lynx rufus texensis)
Two recent studies (Croteau E. K. 2009, Reding D. M. 2011), based on phylogeography, population history, and mitochondrial DNA, found support for just two subspecies in North America north of Mexico whose status is certain and two possible subspecies in Mexico whose status needs to be clarified. A later study (Loveless A. M. 2016), based on ecological niche and morphology, confirmed the east-west division of northern bobcats. Lynx rufus rufus occurs east of the Great Plains and Lynx rufus fasciatus occurs west of the Great Plains.
eastern bobcat (Lynx rufus rufus)
Mexican bobcat (Lynx rufus escuinapae)
northwestern bobcat (Lynx rufus fasciatus)
Oaxaca bobcat (Lynx rufus oaxacensis)
Synonyms
Felis calcaratus
Felis rufus
Lynx compressus
Common Names
bay lynx
bobcat
red lynx
Glossary
Pelage
The coat of a mammal, consisting of fur, wool, or hair, and including a soft undercoat and stiff guard hairs.
Visitor Photos
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Dan W. Andree |
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Bobcat in pursuit of... Trumpeter Swans. There was a lot of geese in the same area on the ground, but the bobcat targeted the trumpeter swans. Pond in Norman Co. Mn. I have seen 4 bobcats over the years while out in nature and 3 of the 4 in the past 2 years. Just thought I’d share this since it isn’t often you even see one, much less capture a little of one in action. |
A Bobcat was … on 7-10-23 on a private landowners prairie in rural Norman Co. Mn. it was just wandering along. I was downwind from it and it was quite breezy so it never even knew I was there. Only 2nd time I ever encountered a bobcat while out and about in nature. |
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Bobcat... Seen it out near Sandpiper Prairie SNA Norman Co. Mn. |
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Luciearl |
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Ramona Abrego |
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Captive animal |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
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Slideshows
Lynx rufus (Bobcat)
Allen Chartier
Bobcats
Tory Kallman
Bobcats
william ketterer
bobcats
wlb393
Visitor Videos
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Bill Reynolds
Bobcat
11/5/2025
Dan W. Andree
"Another Memorable Outdoor Experience" 2024 Dan W Andree
Dec 8, 2024
A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF A BOBCAT
Published on Jan 16, 2015
Other Videos
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Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
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Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Track Identification: Cougar, Lynx, Bobcat
Muskrat Jim
Bobcat!!! Video # 3 Meadowlands MN
Logan Mattson
Bobcat Stalks a Pocket Gopher | North America
Discovery
Visitor Sightings
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Bill Reynolds
11/5/2025
Location: Pennington Co. Minnesota
I captured this short video of a Bobcat cutting a trail 5 Nov 2025. This trail area is loaded with Cottontails.
Norman Opack
4/2/2025
Location: 516 S 69th Ave W, Duluth MN
just had a big bobcat in my yard in west Duluth.
Dan W. Andree
9/20/2024
Location: Norman Co. Mn.
Bobcat in pursuit of... Trumpeter Swans. There was a lot of geese in the same area on the ground, but the bobcat targeted the trumpeter swans. Pond in Norman Co. Mn.
I have seen 4 bobcats over the years while out in nature and 3 of the 4 in the past 2 years. Just thought I’d share this since it isn’t often you even see one, much less capture a little of one in action.
Dan W. Andree
7/2/2024
Location: near Sandpiper Prairie SNA
Seen it out near Sandpiper Prairie SNA Norman Co. Mn.
Natasha H.
on or around 9/1/2023
Location: Marine on St.Croix, across from state park along the river
Seen during the middle of the day in an active high traffic area. Walked right past me '15-20ft away' and continued down the driveway and into the woods toward the river. Didn't seem bothered much by my presence.
Dan W. Andree
7/10/2023
Location: a private landowners prairie in rural Norman Co. Mn.
A Bobcat was … on 7-10-23 on a private landowners prairie in rural Norman Co. Mn. it was just wandering along. I was downwind from it and it was quite breezy so it never even knew I was there. Only 2nd time I ever encountered a bobcat while out and about in nature.
Melissa
4/8/2022
Location: Credit River, Minnesota
Lots of deer and such pass through our wooded property - this morning we saw a bobcat in the woods outside of our house following on the normal game trail. Confirmed with fresh paw prints in the snow this morning!
Luciearl
4/3/2021
Location: Cass County
Trail cam
Ramona Abrego
2/14/2015
Location: Wildlife Science Center, Forest Lake
Captive animal
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
