This Bobcat Discovers That Golf Bunkers Are Ideal Hunting Hideouts

We don’t think this bobcat is planning on a round of golf! The clever feline has worked out that the sand bunkers are an ideal place to hide when stalking a flock of birds. The bobcat stays hidden from view whilst lifting its head periodically to keep an eye on its potential supper. Finally, it gets in a great position and launches an ambush. Most of the birds get away but one unlucky avian is a little slower than the others. The bobcat gets a birdie!

Watch the Hunt Now

Where Do Bobcats Normally Live?

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are members of the Lynx genus and are found throughout the US. Their range extends from southern Canada to southern Mexico. That said, the populations are most dense in the southeastern region of the US.

These big cats can inhabit a range of habitats, from forests to semi-deserts. They use hollows in trees or rocky crevices as their dens. As you can see in this clip, they are also happy to use golf courses as hunting grounds.

How Do Bobcats Normally Behave?

Bobcats are nocturnal and so are usually most active at night although they can also often be seen at dusk. They live alone, and males and females only interact during the mating season. We know that they are territorial and that they mark their territories using urine, feces, and anal gland excretions. A male’s territory can overlap that of a female’s, but males are usually unwilling to share territories! Communication for bobcats is not just about scent marking – they also use vocalization. They can make yelling sounds and have been seen hissing at each other.

What Do Bobcats Normally Hunt?

Bobcats are strict carnivores and have to hunt other animals to stay alive. As we see in this clip, they use a stealth hunting technique where they stalk their prey and then pounce. If they are successful, they dispatch the prey with a bite to the neck vertebra. Most of their diet is made up of rodents, rabbits, and small ungulates. They also like to eat large ground birds and even the occasional reptile. If they live near human settlements, they have also been caught pinching small domesticated animals and poultry.

In turn, coyotes, large owls, and foxes prey on young bobcat kittens. There are around 1 million bobcats living in the US right now. Some populations are stable, but in other places, they are endangered. Some states allow regulated hunting, whereas in other areas, bobcats are protected.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Karyn Honor/Shutterstock.com