Red or red lynx (lat. Lynx rufus)

How to find out

Common lynxes and bobcats are not much different from each other, being a species of small cats that live in North America. On average they reach one meter in length (3 feet). Both have short tails, squat bodies, and are well adapted to survive in harsh environments.

The bobcat is easily identified by its short tail and spotted coat. In winter you can often see her hunting during the daytime.

At first glance, it is difficult to distinguish a common lynx from a red lynx. But if you look more closely, you will notice that the red lynx has a more spotted skin. This gives her the opportunity to remain undetected in the dense vegetation of the rocky terrain where she prefers to settle.

The lynx differs from other cats in that it has a very short tail, but otherwise it is a typical cat with huge paws and very sharp claws. In addition, she has extremely developed hearing, and the tips of her pointed ears are crowned with beautiful tufts of long hair.

The lynx's skin, covered with thick, short gray-brown fur, helps it camouflage well against the background of mosses and lichens. IN various places Where lynxes live, the color of their fur is also different. She changes in wide range- from smooth without spots to densely spotted.

Where does it live?

Lynxes usually live in North America and in forests northern Europe, where winters can be harsh. Lynx can live in temperatures as low as 57° Celsius (70° Fahrenheit). She easily moves through deep snow. Even her relatively short tail, as if cut off at the end, helps her adapt to the cold.

Bobcat lives in mountains and subtropical swamp forests, on bare mountain slopes, among cacti on desert plains, and at the same time in the cultural landscape and even in the vicinity of large cities.

As for the red lynx, it lives further south. In addition to North America, lynxes also live in sparsely populated areas Europe, from Spain to Scandinavia, and also up to Eastern Siberia.

Lifestyle

The lynx can silently move through the forest, chasing its favorite prey - the hare. The lynx is able to detect small animals even under a layer of snow or hear and see them in complete darkness. The bobcat's prey is American wild rabbit. When hunting for him, she relies more on sight than hearing.

It feeds mainly on voles, squirrels and other rodents, but sometimes attacks wild turkeys, domestic chickens and even white-tailed deer and sheep.

The red lynx is able to detect small mammals even under the snow, where they are hidden in burrows. The lynx unmistakably finds its victims by barely audible sounds coming from under the snow. The numbers of red lynx and hares always depend on each other. When there are a lot of hares, the lynx reproduces well. As the number of hares decreases, the number of lynxes also decreases.

The fertility and reproduction of lynxes are determined and directly depend on the abundance of food. When there are a lot of rabbits, the lynx does not have to go far in search of prey. However, when there are not enough rabbits, the lynx can sometimes get into fights with other lynxes over food.

The breeding season is not confined to a strictly defined season, but mating usually occurs in the spring. Some females can produce 2 litters per year. The gestation period for the red lynx is only 50 days. There are usually 2, but sometimes 4 kittens in a litter.

Females are content with smaller territories than males. A male can occupy a territory that is three times larger than the habitat of two or even three females. Rival males rarely encounter each other. Their domains are marked with strong-smelling excrement and other secretions.

Their favorites hunting trails also abound in marks that they make with urine. These marks serve as signals to other bobcats to stay away.

Titles: red lynx, red lynx.

Area: southern North America (Canada to central Mexico, east to west coast of the United States).

Description: The bobcat is the most common wild cat on the North American continent. This is a typical small lynx, it has not too long legs and wide paws. There is no hair on the paws, the claws are retractable. The tassels on the ears are small. The fur is not too fluffy and warm, like that of the European lynx. Dental formula: I3/3, C1/1, P2/3, M1/1 x 2 = 30 teeth.

Color: reddish-brown with a gray tint, numerous dark spots. There is a white mark on the inside of the tip of the tail. The general coloration of the subspecies is different: lynxes living in the south have more black markings, while those living in the north have fewer. There are completely black and white individuals.

Size: body length with tail 76-127 cm, height at withers 45-58 cm.

Weight: males 9-13 kg, females 5.5-9 kg

Lifespan: in nature up to 20 years, in captivity up to 30 years.

Habitat: Diverse - from swamps to rocky snowy areas, desert plains and canyons. Avoids areas that are too wet or dry.

Enemies: jaguar, puma, Canada lynx, coyote and wolf. Red lynx kittens are hunted by foxes and owls.

Food: The lynx's diet is based on small rodents (voles, squirrels, mice, rats, ground squirrels, porcupines), lagomorphs (hares, rabbits) and birds. Additionally, it catches snakes, bats and insects. In times of hunger, it can also attack young ungulates, eat carrion and steal carcasses from hunting traps. Occasionally eats plant foods (fruits).

Behavior: leads earthly twilight image life. It goes hunting in the evening and early in the morning. In winter it is also found during daylight hours.
The red lynx has favorite resting places and trails that it constantly uses. It climbs trees well, but climbs them only in search of food and shelter.
Able to jump over high obstacles. Vision and hearing are well developed. Hunts on the ground, sneaking up on prey. The lynx holds its prey with its sharp claws and kills it with a bite to the base of the skull. In one sitting, an adult animal eats up to 1.4 kg of meat. He hides the remaining surplus and returns to it the next day.
When walking, the red lynx places its hind paws exactly in the tracks left by its front paws. Soft pads on the legs help to quietly sneak up on prey at close range.

Social structure : Outside the breeding season, the red lynx leads a solitary lifestyle.
It marks the boundaries of its hunting area with urine, feces and secretions from the skin glands. It leaves scratches on tree trunks with its claws. The area of the site depends on the amount of food available.

Reproduction: a female can have up to two litters per year (in spring and late summer).
The female makes a den for her kittens in caves, piles of stones or in the cavities of trees. There is evidence that both parents are involved in raising offspring.

Breeding season/period: February-June.

Puberty: females per year, males at two years.

Pregnancy: 50-70 days.

Offspring: There are up to 6 blind kittens in a litter (usually 2-4). The weight of newborns is up to 340 g. On the 10th day, the eyes open. Lactation lasts up to 8 weeks. Kittens gain 25 g in weight per day. From 3 to 5 months, kittens go hunting with their mother. At 9 months of age, they are completely independent and acquire their own hunting area.

Benefit/harm for humans: The bobcat causes damage by preying on domestic animals (sheep and birds). Because of this, local farmers kill them.
Fur is in demand and has commercial value.

Population/Conservation Status: The current population number is 725,000 - 1,000,000 mature individuals. The approximate area of the range is more than 2,500,000 km 2. The species is listed in the CITES Convention (Appendix II).

There are 2 subspecies Felis rufus: F.r. baileyi- Northwestern Mexico, F.r. californicus- California, F.r. escuinapae- Mexico, F.r. fasciatus- Pacific Northwest coast of the USA and Canada, F.r. floridanus- Southeastern USA, F.r. giga- northeastern USA, Canada, F.r. oaxacensis- Southern Mexico, F.r. pallescens- northwestern USA, Canada, F.r. peninsularis- Baja Peninsula (Mexico), F.r. rufus- northeastern USA, F.r. superiorensis - big lakes in the northern USA, F.r. texensis- Texas, northwestern Mexico.

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The bobcat, or red lynx, is a predatory animal that lives in North America. Some may know it as a bobcat. Despite its modest size, the red lynx is the largest predatory cat in their habitats. For many years now it has presented a mystery to zoologists. It is not easy to see and track it, although the lynx is not afraid of humans. That is why any piece of information obtained about her is valuable.

General description

The bobcat is a relative of the common lynx, but is half the size. Body length rarely reaches 90 cm, and weight ranges from 6 to 16 kg. Among individuals of this species, representatives with a weight of approximately 10 kg are most often found.

Its fur is brownish-red in color with a large number pigment (because of this, the bobcat is sometimes called red). Dark spots are scattered throughout the fur, helping the animal camouflage against the background of foliage and tall grass. In Florida, there are individuals with an exclusively black color. There are also known cases of albinism among lynxes. The tail is quite short relative to the body and is 15 cm. There is a white mark on it, by which the bobcat can be distinguished from other related species.

The uniqueness of this type of lynx is that it does not have tufts on its ears. However, there are small dark panicles at their tips. It is they that make it possible to distinguish it from the sand cat, whose appearance has much in common with the appearance of the bobcat. The muzzle of a lynx is strikingly reminiscent of the muzzle of a domestic cat, with the difference that in a wild animal it is much larger, and there are woolen outgrowths on both sides. The pupil is elongated, the eye color is yellow. The red lynx has a rather massive and wide nose, on both sides of which the fur is light in color.

The body of the red lynx is very strong and lean. Prey caught in these developed paws has no chance of getting back out, and the structure of the limbs allows the bobcat to make jumps 5 m long, overtaking the pursued target in no time.

Spreading

The habitat of this animal is entirely located on the American continent, which is a rather atypical phenomenon. The red lynx lives in the USA, in the South and West of Canada, near southern Mexico. Despite their fairly widespread distribution, these cats are endangered due to uncontrolled extermination by humans.

Lifestyle

The bobcat's preferences in choosing housing are quite varied. The animal can settle both in arid areas and in swampy lowlands or forest thickets. Some individuals settle near human habitation and spend their entire lives among the cultural landscape (conditions created by humans). Despite the fact that these animals have perfectly mastered climbing trees, they do not use them for permanent habitat, preferring to move up in case of danger or heat. They also swim quite rarely, preferring to do so only in the summer in order to cool down.

Although the red lynx occupies a dominant position in size, it is not the main predator of the continent and has natural enemies. These include the Canadian lynx, puma and jaguar, a meeting with which can result in death for a bobcat.

The basis of the red lynx's diet is food of animal origin. She enjoys hunting rabbits, mice, porcupines and gophers. Sometimes a bobcat is strong enough to overpower a white-tailed deer or livestock, but such cases are extremely rare. The red lynx moves out to find prey at dusk. However, in northern latitudes There is less opportunity for her to obtain high-calorie food, so the bobcat uses any time of day to hunt if potential food is nearby.

After eating, the animal prefers to rest. If there is anything left from the meal, she carefully hides the traces of the recent feast. Like some other species of big cats, the bobcat is capable of hiding food on tree branches.

For the red lynx, an important task is to protect the territory, for which the males scratch trees and make marks with urine. One animal can occupy an area of 100 sq. km, and this is far from the limit. Females occupy approximately 50 square meters. km and defend their possessions as fiercely as the males. Several males can divide the border territory and provide their habitat for 3 females. Animals use the smell of urine to demonstrate their readiness to mate.

Reproduction

The breeding season begins with the first warm days spring. Female red lynx carry a fetus for 53 days, after which a litter of several blind kittens is born. Babies begin to see clearly on days 7-9, after which they feed on mother’s milk for another 2 months. The milk of a female bobcat is very fatty and thick, it contains a high concentration of nutrients. Bobcats treat kittens with care, constantly licking them. The female is always ready to take care of the offspring and, in case of danger, will move small predators to a new shelter.

Throughout the entire time, the male feeds all the females living on his territory. He will give them part of the spoils, even if he himself goes hungry. This is a rather unique phenomenon that is rarely found among other representatives of the animal world. For some time, the female does not allow the male to approach the hole, preferring to take food in neutral territory. But when the kittens grow up a little and get stronger, the male is allowed to bring food directly to the shelter and leave the meat for the cubs to feed.

Raising growing lynxes is an important element in a female’s life. When the cubs reach the age of several months, she leaves the hole with them and begins to walk them in her own territory, teaching them the basics of hunting and protection from natural enemies. At about six months, the kittens already go out for their first prey, which takes place under the strict control of the mother. This develops their endurance, providing physical activity. Throughout the entire period of growing up, kittens play with each other, which is also an important component of their physical development.

Hunting

The red lynx does not hunt in a pack, preferring to do this activity alone. Interesting feature bobcat and other lynxes are that they can ambush and wait in hiding for an unsuspecting prey. The lynx always kills its prey in the same way: first it gnaws the carotid artery and then breaks the neck. The spontaneity of the attack allows her to hunt animals that are significantly larger than her.

Threat of extinction

The skin of a red lynx is a valuable trophy, fetching several thousand dollars on the black market. And the lynx’s secretiveness and fearlessness in front of humans only adds excitement to poachers. Another reason why this species is hunted is the damage bobcats cause to farms. They attack birds and small animals, which is why farmers, at the first opportunity, try to eliminate the animal that has gotten into the habit of visiting their lands.

On at the moment The red lynx is listed in the Red Book as a species that is threatened with complete extermination. Attempts are being made to restore the bobcat population and reproduce the individuals present in zoos, but so far these efforts have not brought much results.

The lynx develops the same speed in water as a person, and can also dive for a short time.
IN early age The red lynx lends itself well to training and taming, so the kitten has every chance of becoming a full-fledged pet, which is kept outside the cage.
The average lifespan of a bobcat in the wild is 18 years, in captivity – 30 years.
Individuals of red lynx living in northern latitudes (for example, in Canada) are noticeably larger than their southern counterparts.
In the first year of growing up, kittens gain an average of 25 grams of weight per day.
When jumping and walking, the red lynx places its hind legs exactly in the place where its forelimbs were located a second ago. Despite the ability to develop high speeds of movement, the lynx will not be able to pursue prey for a long time. If it was not possible to grab the victim in the first 30 seconds, then it will most likely leave it alone.

Video: Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Lynx (lat. Lynx) - genus carnivorous mammals the cat family, which is divided into several species:

* Eurasian(common) lynx (lat. Lynx lynx)

* Canada lynx(lat. Lynx canadensis); some sources consider it a subspecies of the common lynx

* Bobcat(lat. Lynx rufus)

* Spanish(Iberian) lynx (lat. Lynx pardinus)

There is also a caracal (lat. Caracal caracal) - a steppe lynx, which is separated into a separate genus, despite its external similarity with lynxes.

Eurasian lynx is the largest of all lynxes, body length 80-130 cm and 70 cm at the withers. Males often weigh from 18-30 kg, females weigh on average 18.1 kg. The body, like that of all lynxes, is short and dense. The paws are large and well furred in winter, which allows the lynx to walk on the snow without falling through. There are long tassels on the ears. The tassels on the ears, which distinguish the lynx from other cats, are by no means just decoration - they serve as a kind of antennas, helping the animal to pick up even very quiet sounds. If you cut off the tassels, the lynx's keen hearing is immediately dulled. The tail is short, as if chopped off.

There are many color variations of the lynx, depending on the geographical area - from reddish-brown to fawn-smoky, with more or less pronounced spotting on the back, sides and paws. On the belly, the hair is especially long and soft, but not thick and almost always pure white with sparse specks. Southern forms usually more red, their hair is shorter, and their paws are smaller.

The lynx's track is typically cat-like, with no claw marks. When she steps, she places her hind paw in the footprint of her front paw. If several trots are walking, then the hind ones step exactly in the tracks of the front ones.

The Eurasian lynx is the northernmost of the cat species; in Scandinavia it is found even beyond the Arctic Circle. It was once quite common throughout Europe, but by the middle of the 20th century it was exterminated in most countries of Central and Western Europe. Successful attempts have now been made to revive the lynx population.

Currently, 90% of the Eurasian lynx population lives in Siberia.

Eurasian lynx cub:

The lynx prefers dense dark coniferous forests and taiga, although it is found in a wide variety of plantations, including mountain forests; sometimes enters the forest-steppe and forest-tundra. She climbs trees and rocks very well and swims well.

When there is an abundance of food, the lynx lives sedentary; when there is a shortage, it wanders. It can travel up to 30 kilometers per day. The basis of its diet is hares. It also constantly hunts grouse birds, small rodents, and, less often, small ungulates such as roe deer, musk deer, spotted and reindeer, occasionally attacks domestic cats and dogs, and in the forest - foxes, raccoon dogs and other small animals. He destroys foxes especially decisively and viciously, even when there is no particular need for this.

Lynx hunts at dusk. Contrary to popular beliefs, she never jumps on her prey from a tree, but prefers to watch for game in ambush or stealth, and then attack with large, up to 4 m, jumps. The victim is pursued at a distance of no more than 60-80 m, after which it runs out of steam.

Despite all the caution, the lynx is not very afraid of people. She lives in the secondary forests created by them, in young forests, in old cutting areas and burnt areas; and in times of adversity it enters villages and even big cities.

Canada lynx , or North American lynx, is a species of lynx that lives in the North American taiga. The closest relative of the Eurasian lynx. This type of lynx is half the size of the Eurasian lynx: its body length is 86-117 cm, height at the withers is 60-65 cm; weight 8-14 kg. In captive animals, the weight can reach up to 20 kg in both sexes. The coat color is grayish-brown, turning red in summer; White marks are scattered across the main background, giving the impression of being dusted with snow. There is an unusually light, “blue” color.

Lives in wooded areas of Alaska, Canada, as well as the states of Montana, Idaho, Washington and Colorado.

The Canadian lynx feeds mainly on hares; the size of its population depends on the growth or decline of their population. In addition to the main diet are rodents (squirrels, mice, beavers), red deer, foxes and birds (pheasants).

The future of Canada lynxes is not in danger at this time; They are endangered only in a few regions.

Canada lynx cubs:

Bobcat - a species of lynx native to North America. Outwardly, it is a typical lynx, but smaller, half the size of a regular lynx, not so long-legged and wide-legged, since it does not need to walk in deep snow, but with a shorter tail. Its body length is 60.2–80 cm, height at withers 30–35 cm, weight 6.7–11 kg.

The general color tone is reddish-brown with a gray tint. Unlike true lynxes, the bobcat has a white marking on the inside of the tip of its tail, while the bobcat's tail is completely black. Southern subspecies have more black markings than northern ones. There are individuals who are completely black (melanistic) and white(albinos), and the first ones are only in Florida. The bobcat is found from extreme southern Canada to central Mexico and from the east to west coasts of the United States. The red lynx is found in both subtropical forests, and in arid desert areas, swampy lowlands, coniferous and deciduous forests and even in the cultural landscape and surroundings of large cities. Although the bobcat is a good tree climber, it only climbs trees in search of food and shelter.

The main food of the red lynx is the American rabbit; also catches snakes, mice, rats, gophers and porcupines. Sometimes it attacks birds (wild turkeys, domestic chickens) and even white-tailed deer. Occasionally - on small domestic animals.

Natural enemies bobcat - other cats: jaguars, pumas and Canadian lynxes.

Red lynx cub:

South Texas Bobcat:

Spanish lynx (Iberian lynx, pardo lynx, Iberian lynx) (Lynx pardinus) is a species of lynx that is found in southwestern Spain (most of it in national park Coto Doñana), although initially spanish lynx was widespread in Spain and Portugal. Now its range is limited to mountainous areas.

Previously, it was often considered a subspecies of the Eurasian lynx. To date, it has been proven that these are two different types, which evolved independently of each other during the Pleistocene era. It differs from the latter in its lighter color and pronounced spots, giving its color a resemblance to the color of a leopard. In winter, the fur dulls and becomes thinner. It is also half the size of the Eurasian lynx, and therefore hunts mainly small game - hares and rabbits, only occasionally attacking baby deer.

Height at the withers is 45-70 cm, trot length 75-100 cm, including a short tail (12-30 cm), weight 13-25 kg.

The Spanish lynx is one of the most rare species mammals. As of 2005, its population was estimated to be only 100 individuals. For comparison: at the beginning of the 20th century there were about 100 thousand of them, by 1960 - already 3 thousand, by 2000 - only 400.

Bobcat, Latin name: Lynx rufus Schreber, 1777

Distribution: Distributed in the southern half of North America: from the extreme south of Canada to central Mexico and from the east to west coasts of the United States. The approximate area of the range is more than 2,500,000 square km.

The bobcat is the most common wild cat on the North American continent. In general appearance, this is a typical lynx, but it is almost twice as small as an ordinary lynx and is not so long-legged and wide-legged.

Since bobcats live in areas with milder climates, they do not have furry “snow skis” on their paws like their northern relatives. Their fur is also not so fluffy and warm. The tufts on their ears are much smaller than those of ordinary ones. But her tail is longer. All claws are retractable. Their dental formula is i3/3, c1/1, p2/3, m1/1 x 2: 30 teeth in total.

Color: The coat is red-brown with a gray tint and numerous dark spots. Unlike true lynxes, the bobcat has a white marking on the inside of the tip of its tail, while lynxes have a completely black mark. Southern subspecies have more black markings than northern ones. There are individuals completely black (melanists) and white (albinos), with the former only in Florida.

The length of her body including the tail is 76.2-127 cm (body length: 62-95cm, tail: 13-20cm), height at the withers: 45-58 cm.

Weight: males: 8.9-13.3 kg, females: 5.8-9.2 kg. The largest red lynx weighed 17.6 kg, which is officially documented.

Lifespan: They can live up to 20 years in the wild (average 15.5 years), and up to 32 years in captivity.

Habitat: The habitat of these cats is very diverse - from swamps in the southeast of the continent to rocky snowy areas in the northwest and canyons in the southeast. The red lynx lives in subtropical swamp forests, on bare mountain slopes, among cacti on desert plains, in cultural landscapes and even in the vicinity of large cities. They feel equally comfortable on open spaces, and in forests, although extremely wet habitats such as swamps or extremely dry ones such as deserts are avoided.

Enemies: The main enemy is man. Natural enemies of the red lynx - big cats: jaguars, pumas and Canadian lynxes, as well as coyotes and wolves. The fox and owl, if possible, can hunt kittens.

These predators feed mainly on voles, squirrels, mice, rats, gophers, porcupines and other rodents and small mammals, birds (in particular wild turkeys), also catches snakes, bats, insects, but their favorite prey remains American rabbits and hares. If there is a lack of small prey, they can also attack young ungulates (white-tailed deer), especially in winter. They are not shy about going onto farms to pick up domestic animals (goats and sheep) and birds (chickens, turkeys, etc.). Rarely eats plant foods, in particular fruits.

In difficult times without food, the lynx can even be content with carrion, and sometimes steals the carcasses of animals caught in hunting traps.

Red lynxes lead a predominantly crepuscular lifestyle, preferring to go hunting in the evening and in the morning. They hunt much less often at night, and during the day they can be found only in winter.

These predators have persistent habits - they have favorite resting places and trails that are constantly used during their wanderings. Although the bobcat is a good tree climber, it only climbs trees in search of food and shelter, but spends most of its life on the ground.

Bobcats are extremely mobile. Dispersal over a territory averages less than 50 km, but can reach at least 150-200 km during times when food is scarce. Red lynxes are capable of high speed jump over significant obstacles.

The bobcat is a patient and stealthy hunter, with excellent eyesight and hearing that help them in their hunt. The hunt for prey occurs almost exclusively on the ground, in the form of a pursuit (as an exception, it can be in ambush in a tree). Bobcats can run up to 30 miles in an hour, but they prefer to cover themselves.

They use their claws to catch the animal. The killing of its prey is carried out by a bite to the base of the skull (crushing the occipital vertebrae), while the predator is at the top, on the dorsal side of its victim.

Red lynxes can eat about 1.4 kg of meat at one time. If the prey is large enough, the lynx hides the uneaten remains in order to return to it the next day.

For rest, the red lynx chooses a new place every day, without lingering in the old one. This could be a crack in the rocks, a cave, a hollow log, a space under a fallen tree, etc. On the ground or snow, the red lynx takes a step approximately 25 - 35 cm long; The size of an individual footprint is approximately 4.5 x 4.5 cm. When walking, they place their hind paws exactly in the tracks left by their front paws. Thanks to this, they never make very loud noise from the crackling of dry twigs under their feet. Soft pillows on their legs help them calmly sneak up to the animal at close range. Bobcats are good tree climbers and can also swim across a small body of water, but they only do this on rare occasions.

Social structure: Red lynxes lead a solitary lifestyle, and contacts between individuals of the opposite sex occur only during the mating season.

They are territorial animals and have their own areas, the boundaries of which can narrow or expand, which is in inverse proportion to the amount of available game.

Their territorial boundaries are marked by urine, excrement and secretions from their skin glands. In addition, lynxes make scratches with their claws on tree trunks, which serve as visual marks.

The area of an individual range varies widely, from 0.2 to 80 square miles, and depends on both the type of habitat and the abundance of prey in it. Thus, in Louisiana, the area of the male's territory averages about 5 square kilometers and 1 square km for females. In Idaho, the range area averaged 42 square kilometers for males and 19 for females. In the south, in the state of Florida, even up to 500 animals per 100 km2 have been recorded!

Reproduction: The breeding season is not confined to a strictly defined season, but mating usually occurs in the spring. It is interesting to note that red lynxes can have two litters per year, thanks to sufficient short term pregnancy. In addition, female bobcats are forced ovulators (that is, they ovulate during mating, and in response to mating), therefore, mating can occur at any time of the year.

Pregnant females find shelter for childbirth in dens, which are built in small caves, rock piles or large voids in tree trunks. Kittens are born blind and helpless, weigh from 280 to 340 grams, their eyes open at 10 days of age. The female feeds newborn kittens for 8 weeks. During this period, kittens gain about 25 g in weight daily.

The mother brings the caught prey to the cubs' den for a little more than a week after weaning, and then they begin to hunt and travel with her for another three to five months. At nine months they begin to form their own territory.

According to some reports, both parents feed the young while they are in the den.

Breeding season/period: Usually breeds from February to June. Sometimes a female gives birth to two litters per year: usually in spring and late summer.

Puberty: Females become sexually mature at 12 months, males at 24 months.

Offspring: 2–4 kittens are born in a litter, rarely up to 6.

In Mexico, bobcats often prey on domestic animals (especially sheep) and birds, which has led farmers to “declare war” on them. Their skins are beautiful, so red lynx fur is in demand and has a certain commercial value. For example, between 1991 and 1992 alone, about 22,000 lynx were killed.

While common lynxes were reducing their numbers under the influence of anthropogenic factors, red lynxes learned to get along with humans. As people mastered the wilderness, they multiplied more and more and now live everywhere from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Its total population is estimated at approximately 725,000-1,020,000 individuals.

This species is now listed in Appendix II of the CONVENTION Sites.

Lynx rufus subspecies:

L.r. baileyi (American and Northwestern Mexico southwest)

L.r. californicus (Pacific Coast USA - California)

L.r. escuinapae (Mexico)

L.r. fasciatus (Pacific Coast Northwest USA and Canada)

L.r. floridanus (Southeastern US)

L.r. giga (Northeastern US and Canada)

L.r. oaxacensis (Southern Mexico)

L.r. pallescens (Northwestern US and Canada)

L.r. peninsularis (Baja Peninsula)

L.r. rufus (And Northeastern US midwestern)