Bobcat
BobcatBobcatBobcat

Bobcat

Lynx rufus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
5–10% · Rare
overall probability at Shenandoah National Park
19 Verified records at Shenandoah National Park
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's active Active throughout day and night

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 →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Bobcat sighting in Shenandoah National Park, based on 19 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Shenandoah National Park

American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

20–30% · Possible
Red Fox
LC Endemic

Red Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Vulpes vulpes

10–20% · With luck
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

10–20% · With luck
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

5–10% · With luck
🐒 No photo available
LC

Striped Skunk

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Mephitis mephitis

5–10% · With luck
Northern River Otter
LC Endemic

Northern River Otter

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lontra canadensis

<5% · Rare
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
5–10
Feb
5–10
Mar
5–10
Apr
<5
May
5–10
Jun
<5
Jul
5–10
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
10–20
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️🌙 When They're Spotted

Active throughout day and night · across all parks (global)

☀️🌙Day & Night
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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

# Park Country Probability
1 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
2 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
3 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
4 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
5 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
6 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
7 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
8 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
9 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
10 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
11 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
12 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
13 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
14 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
15 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
16 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
17 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
18 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
19 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
20 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
21 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
22 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
23 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
24 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
25 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Bobcat in Shenandoah National Park?

About 5% of wildlife watchers report a Bobcat sighting in Shenandoah National Park, based on 19 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Bobcat in Shenandoah National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Bobcat in Shenandoah National Park in our monthly data.

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