Bobcat
Lynx rufus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassMammalia (Mamífers)
- OrderCarnivora (Carnívors)
- FamilyFelidae (Felids)
- GenusLynx
- SpeciesLynx rufus (Bobcat)
The bobcat (Lynx rufus), also known as the wildcat, bay lynx, or red lynx, is one of the four extant species within the medium-sized wild cat genus Lynx. Native to North America, it ranges from southern Canada through most of the contiguous United States to Oaxaca in Mexico. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2002, due to its wide distribution and large population. Although it has been hunted extensively both for sport and fur, populations have proven stable, though declining in some areas. It has distinctive black bars on its forelegs and a black-tipped, stubby (or "bobbed") tail, from which it derives its name. It reaches a total length (including the tail) of up to 125 cm (50 in). Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Bobcat sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 33 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Big Bend National Park
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
Coyote
Canis latrans
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Common Hog-nosed Skunk
Conepatus leuconotus
Ringtail
Bassariscus astutus
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Northern River Otter
Lontra canadensis
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️🌙 When They're Spotted
Active throughout day and night · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Bobcat in Big Bend National Park?
About 13% of wildlife watchers report a Bobcat sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 33 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Bobcat in Big Bend National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Bobcat in Big Bend National Park in our monthly data.