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Lynx rufus
– Least Concern
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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MAMMALIA
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Order:
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CARNIVORA
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Family:
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FELIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Lynx rufus
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Species Authority:
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(Schreber, 1777)
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Common Name/s:
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| English | — | BAY LYNX, BOBCAT |
| French | — | CHAT SAUVAGE, LYNX ROUX |
| Spanish | — | GATO MONTÉS, LINCE ROJO |
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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LC ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2002
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Assessor/s:
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Cat Specialist Group
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Evaluator/s:
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Nowell, K., Breitenmoser, U., Breitenmoser, C. & Jackson, P. (Cat Red List Authority)
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Justification:
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Based on estimates of density and geographic range (Nowell and Jackson 1996), the bobcat's total effective population size is estimated at greater than 50,000 mature breeding individuals, but with a declining trend due to persecution and degradation of its habitat and prey base.
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History:
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| 1996 | - | Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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The majority of the world’s bobcats are found in the United States, however, they also extend into southern Canada, and south into Mexico.
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Countries:
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Native:
Canada; Mexico; United States
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Population
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Population:
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The bobcat is generally widespread and relatively abundant in North America, but there is little information from the south of its range in Mexico.
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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In the US, the bobcat ranges through a wide variety of habitats, including boreal coniferous and mixed forests in the north, bottomland hardwood forest and coastal swamp in the south-east, and desert and scrubland in the south-west. Only large, intensively cultivated areas appear to be unsuitable habitat. Areas with dense understorey vegetation and high prey density are most intensively selected by bobcats (Nowell and Jackson 1996). In Mexico, bobcats are found in dry scrubland and forests of pine and oak, principally in the mountainous northern and central parts of the country, and not in the tropical south (Nowell and Jackson 1996). Southern Canada represents the northern limit of bobcat range.
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System:
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Terrestrial
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List of Habitats:
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| 1.1 | Forest - Boreal |
| 1.4 | Forest - Temperate |
| 1.5 | Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry |
| 2.1 | Savanna - Dry |
| 3.5 | Shrubland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry |
| 8.1 | Desert - Hot |
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Threats
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Threats:
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In the last 20 years, the bobcat has been the most heavily harvested and traded of the cat species. World demand for bobcat fur rose gradually in the late 1960's and early 1970's and jumped in the mid-1970's after CITES entered into force, when the pelts of cats listed on Appendix I became legally unobtainable for the commercial fur trade. Despite the volume of research on this subject, there is still concern over whether commercial trapping as practiced in North America is sustainable for the bobcat population. At present, trade in bobcat pelts is declining. Beginning in 1988, both harvest and report of bobcat pelts dropped due to both market shrinkage and market saturation overseas (Nowell and Jackson 1996). Bobcats are generally not persecuted as pest species in North America. However in central Mexico the bobcat is reputed to be a major predator of sheep, and persecution by ranchers is more frequent (Nowell and Jackson 1996). The dry scrub and oak and pine forest habitats used by bobcats in Mexico have suffered the highest rates of transformation and degradation relative to other habitat types (Nowell and Jackson 1996).
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List of Threats:
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| 1 | Habitat Loss/Degradation (human induced) (ongoing) |
| 3.4.2 | Harvesting (hunting/gathering) - Materials - Sub-national/national trade (past, present) |
| 3.4.3 | Harvesting (hunting/gathering) - Materials - Regional/international trade (past, present) |
| 5.1 | Persecution - Pest control (ongoing) |
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Included on CITES Appendix II. Hunting and trade are regulated throughout its range (Nowell and Jackson 1996)
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List of Conservation Actions:
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| 1.2.2.1 | Policy-based actions - Legislation - Implementation - International level (in place) |
| 1.2.2.2 | Policy-based actions - Legislation - Implementation - National level (in place) |
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Bibliography
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Bibliography:
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Baillie, J. and Groombridge, B. (compilers and editors) 1996. 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. Cat Specialist Group. For more information, see the Specialist Group website IUCN. 2002. 2002 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. . Downloaded on 8 October 2002. Nowell, K. and Jackson, P. (compilers and editors) 1996. Wild Cats. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. (online version)
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