Bobcat Population by State: How Many Live in Yours?

3 States With No Bobcats

Three states currently have no known bobcat populations:

• Alaska:The climate there is too cold for bobcats. As global temperatures warm, bobcats will likely range further north and appear first in the Alaska panhandle.
• Delaware: The species went extinct there in the 1850s from hunting and habitat loss.
• Hawaii:Isolated in the center of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii has no wild felines. The state strictly monitors animal imports to prevent invasive species from damaging unique island birds and animal species.

The 19 states coming up all have made estimates of their bobcat populations. We’ve listed them in order from the smallest to the largest numbers of bobcats.

19. Ohio (500)

Rural and wooded southeastern Ohio has perfect bobcat habitat, but the numbers in the state are still small. They were hunted into extinction there in the mid-1800s but began migrating back from neighboring states in the early 2000s. Bobcats are similar in size to coyotes but distinguishable from a distance by their stubby tails and pointed ears.

18. Indiana (1,000)

The estimated 1,000 bobcats in Indiana live mainly in the more rural southern part of the state. People sometimes call them “wildcats” or “lynxes.” Bobcats are one of four species of lynx, but they have some key differences from other types of lynxes, though.

17. Nebraska (1,000)

In Nebraska, bobcats live mainly in the eastern and central parts of the state, while mountain lions live in the west. Residents of Omaha and its suburbs spotted both species within city limits in the summer of 2023. Bobcats are much larger than domestic cats and will eat feral cats. The two species are too different anatomically to interbreed.

16. New Hampshire (1,400)

Bobcats almost disappeared in New Hampshire by the 1980s due to habitat loss and hunting. Their numbers have rebounded to about 1,400 thanks to conservation efforts. Bobcats get their name from their short “bobbed” tail. They are hunting machines with keen senses of sight, hearing, and smell and razor-sharp teeth and claws.

15. Connecticut (2,000)

Connecticut has only about 2,000 bobcats, but that’s a lot for one of the smallest states in the country. Bobcats avoid people, but you might still encounter one while hiking or even rarely in your own neighborhood. Experts recommend backing away slowly and making loud noises to scare it away.

14. Minnesota (2,000)

The bobcat population in Minnesota is concentrated in the less-populated northern part of the state. In wilderness areas, male bobcats claim a territory of 30 square miles or so that overlaps the smaller territories of several females, who he mates with.

13. West Virginia (2,500)

West Virginia regulates hunting and trapping to maintain a healthy, stable bobcat population. A mountainous and heavily wooded state, West Virginia provides ideal habitat for this species. An adult bobcat has few predators other than humans. Young ones can be prey for mountain lions, eagles, coyotes, foxes, and even for adult male bobcats.

12. Vermont (3,000)

For a small state, Vermont has a relatively large bobcat population, estimated at 3,000. Nonetheless, most people will never see one because they are so reclusive. Tracks or droppings can be a tell-tale indication they’ve been in the area.

11. Montana (4,000)

Montana’s vast wilderness areas are host to a relatively modest 4,000 bobcats. This number can be expected to increase, especially as the climate becomes warmer and northern states become a more favorable habitat.

10. Illinois (5,000)

In Illinois, bobcats nearly disappeared by the mid-20th century but have bounced back thanks to conservation efforts. Bobcats can leap 12 feet in the air and climb trees, so ordinary fencing is not enough to keep them out. It will prevent your pets from wandering off into the woods, where the danger from these predators is greater.

9. Kentucky (5,000)

Kentucky’s 5,000 bobcats live all over the state. Conservation efforts have been so successful, the population has surged, and hunting re-opened in 2021. Why do people want to hunt bobcats? Some want their beautiful soft pelts, although they’re worth only $30-$300. Other hunters enjoy the opportunity to hunt a different species than they’ve done before and bag a trophy they can be proud of. It’s not common for people to eat the meat, but those who have say it has a mild flavor similar to pork loin.

8. Iowa (6,000)

Most of Iowa’s 6,000 bobcats live in the southern part of the state. Some counties allow bobcat hunting to control the population. Some people love bobcats and want one for a pet. This is illegal in most of the country. However, you can own a pixie-bob, a breed of domestic cat that closely resembles a bobcat.

7. Arizona (7,000)

3,000-7,000 bobcats live in Arizona, particularly in the Sonoran Desert. Rabbits are their favorite food, but they will eat all sorts of other small animals like birds, rats and mice, lizards, snakes, and carrion.

6. Oregon (7,000)

Oregon’s 7,000 bobcats live mainly in the western part of the state and the Willamette Valley. There are three subspecies living in the state. Although the Cascade mountain range is a considerable barrier to bobcats living on either side of it, genetic research has shown that it does not prevent bobcats from mixing and maintaining genetic diversity.

5. Michigan (10,000)

Bobcats number about 10,000 in Michigan and are found in all counties of the state. They’re most plentiful in the southern part of the lower peninsula. The coloration of bobcats is generally brown but can be tinged with grey or red. Each individual has its own pattern of dark spots and stripes.

4. Colorado (12,000)

Bobcats avoid people, but Colorado has so many mountains, foothills, and canyons, the 12,000 of so in the state can find plenty of places to hide. Bobcats like to hunt by lying in ambush. Although they usually eat smaller prey, they are fully capable of bringing down young deer with a powerful bite to the neck.

3. North Carolina (20,000)

Bobcats were almost exterminated in North Carolina by the 1970s but have made a huge comeback. They have been sighted all over the state, from the coastal plain to the Appalachian Mountains and its foothills in the west.

2. Wisconsin (46,500)

Wisconsin has a huge bobcat population that lives in all the state’s counties. It is one of 20 states that allow citizens to own a captured or domestic-bred bobcat as a pet. This site has a complete list of the legal status of owning a bobcat in all 50 states. Trust us, though. Even if it’s legal, for a whole host of reasons wild animals just don’t make great pets.

1. California (50,000)

Bobcats are the most common wild cat in the United States. Out of the estimated 1-3 million bobcats in the country, California has the most, with about 30-50,000. They live in all 58 counties of the state. Bobcats are not endangered; the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers them a species of “least concern.”

28 States Where Bobcat Numbers are Unknown

These 28 states all have bobcats, maybe even thousands of them, but just don’t have official estimates of the population sizes:

1. Alabama
2. Arkansas
3. Florida
4. Georgia
5. Idaho
6. Kansas
7. Louisiana
8. Maine
9. Maryland
10. Massachusetts
11. Mississippi
12. Missouri
13. Nevada
14. New Jersey
15. New Mexico
16. New York
17. Oklahoma
18. Pennsylvania
19. Rhode Island
20. South Carolina
21. North Dakota
22. South Dakota
23. Tennessee
24. Texas
25. Utah
26. Virginia
27. Washington
28. Wyoming

Beneficial and Beautiful

Bobcats are a species we are likely to preserve. They have a useful environmental role in keeping down the populations of prey species, some of which, like rabbits, rats, and mice, can do great damage to farming. And there’s no doubt they are gorgeous creatures. Their similarity to domestic cats can give them a unique appeal. Make no mistake, though, they are ferocious wild animals. Be glad if your state has some, but also be glad if you never meet up with one in person!