IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group Library

IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library

View printer friendly
Chamberlain, M.J.; Leopold, B.D.; Conner, L.M.

2005 American Midland Naturalist (149): 395-405
Many factors influence bobcat (_Lynx rufus_) space use, movements and habitat selection, including prey distribution and density, season, breeding behaviors and intraspecific relationships. Knowledge of ranging behaviors and habitat selection is required to understand population dynamics and ecology of bobcats within temperate ecosystems. We radio-monitored 58 adult bobcats from 1989-1997 in central Mississippi. Males maintained larger home ranges and core areas than females, but sizes of these areas did not vary seasonally. Male bobcats moved at greater rates than females and bobcats moved at greatest rates during nocturnal periods. Movement rates were greatest during winter. Habitat selection at three spatial scales differed between genders and across seasons within gender. Our findings suggest that <8 y-old pine (_Pinus_ spp.) habitats are important to bobcats, particularly females, as these habitats were selected by females at all spatial scales. However, our data also indicate that mature (.30 y) pine habitats are important to bobcats on our study area.
	PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here