Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If this is your first time visiting our blog, we’re happy to have you here. We are all about nature, adventure, and making the most out of the beautiful outdoors of South Carolina. If you enjoy all things hiking, paddling, kayaking, and spending time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Since the weather is getting warmer, we want to help you get out there and take advantage of all that the Lowcountry has to offer! We offer guided tours of the beautiful Lowcountry by kayak, paddleboard, ferry, boat, and private charter. We also have hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, and camping. Anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. In our last post, we discussed oysters and oyster shell recycling. Today, we’ll be talking about some more of our furry friends in the Lowcountry: Bobcats! These magnificent creatures are on the prowl in the Lowcountry, and we are excited to share tons of information about them! If you are interested in learning more about bobcats, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started!

The bobcat, sometimes known as the red lynx or wildcat, is a medium-sized cat native to North America. Known scientifically as Lynx rufus, the bobcat is the most widely distributed of all North American felines. The species can be found throughout the lower 48 states, as far north as Canada, and in southern Mexico. They can be found throughout South Carolina, but are most abundant in the Coastal Plain. When it comes to habitat, bobcats are extremely versatile and adaptable animals. They can thrive in mixed forests in the north, coastal swamps in the southeast, and deserts and scrublands in the west. In South Carolina, they prefer heavily wooded areas, with the highest densities of bobcats living in the bottomland forests of the lower Coastal Plain. 

The color of bobcats ranges from grayish brown to reddish brown with black spots on the legs and lower sides, and the fur on its undersides is lighter in color. The ears are pointed with black tips, and short, black tufts. With longer hair beneath their ears, the bobcat’s face appears a bit wider. Their tail is short and stubby, or “bobbed”, which is where the bobcat gets its name. The colors and spots on the bobcat’s fur act as camouflage, helping them blend in with brush, rocks, and other dense vegetation where it hunts prey. The adult male bobcat can weigh anywhere from 18 to 25 pounds, being larger than females, which weigh around 15 to 20 pounds. 

Bobcats have an extremely great sense of hearing and sight, and a pretty good sense of smell. This is used to their advantage when it comes to hunting. Bobcats primarily hunt by sight, more so than other predators, like the fox. The bobcat is notorious for stalking its prey and then ambushing it by chasing or pouncing on it. They are carnivorous animals, meaning they only feed on other animals. Some of the key staples of the bobcat’s diet are mice, cottontail rabbits, cotton rats, and squirrels. However, changes in diet can appear under certain circumstances. For example, during the hunting season, when white-tailed deer may be injured or killed but not retrieved, bobcats may take advantage of this factor. This is because bobcats are opportunistic hunters, and they can change their hunting strategy based on changing factors. Other animals in the bobcats’ diet include fish, like small sharks, birds, and insects. It less commonly feeds on larger animals, such as foxes, skunks, raccoons, pigs, and goats. However, they do not generally pose a threat to agriculture or livestock. Bobcats are able to go long periods of time without eating, but when prey is abundant, they will eat heavily. 

These medium-sized felines are polygamous, meaning that they have more than one mate. Their peak breeding activity happens from late February to early April. Bobcats make their dens in caves, rock formations, tree stumps, or hollow logs. They generally make their dens anywhere that is protected from the weather. The female bobcat will line the den with moss and foliage. In the Lowcountry, bobcats may use the thicket of a palmetto tree as a den. On average, gestation is around 63 days and the average size of a litter is 3 kittens, who generally leave the den after 4 to 5 weeks. The female bobcat will nurse the kittens for two months, and the kittens will travel with her for three to five months. By the time October rolls around, the bobcat family has broken up and the kittens are off on their own. The average lifespan of a bobcat is seven years, but they can live up to 10 years, or longer in rarer cases. The oldest bobcat recorded in South Carolina was 15 years old! In captivity with human care, a bobcat has the potential to live up to 18 years. 

Bobcats are active at all hours of the day and night, but are most active at dawn and dusk, being nocturnal animals. During the day, they will rest and sleep in their dens– Most individual bobcats will have multiple dens spread throughout the area in which they live. They are highly territorial animals, marking their territory by leaving distinctive claw marks on trees and using the scents of their urine in the area to make other animals aware of their presence. These animals are generally at the top of the food chain wherever they dwell, however in some areas, threats to the bobcats include cougars and wolves. Small, vulnerable bobcat kittens may be hunted by coyotes or owls. 

Besides threats from other animals, the bobcat faces threats from humans, as well. The bobcat is considered a furbearer species, which is a wild animal that bears fur. In fact, they have one of the most valued pelts of all furbearers. A pelt refers to the skin of an animal with its fur or wool. Because of the demand for their fur, they have been hunted to near extinction in some areas of North America. However, the bobcat is not endangered. In South Carolina, the commercial harvesting of bobcats is allowed statewide, but a hunting license is required. 

Bobcats will generally not disturb humans. If you encounter a bobcat, it is advised to back away slowly, and the bobcat will typically do the same. Running away can startle the animal and trigger its hunting instinct, so it is best to move as slowly as possible. Loud noises and bright lights are other deterrents for bobcats. Because bobcats are forced to share their natural habitats with a growing population of people, encountering a bobcat may be more common in some areas. Although they are extensively versatile animals, bobcat populations are being pushed into smaller and more isolated areas. This can pose potential problems for bobcats when it comes to finding prey. 

As you can see, bobcats are incredibly fascinating animals. They are rather stealthy and shy, so spotting them can be a rare occurrence, depending on where you live. We want to take this time to remind you that if you happen to encounter a bobcat, keep your distance and respect the animal. We hope that you found this article informative and helpful. As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! If you have any questions about our guided tours, reach out to us! At Coastal Expeditions, we are committed to introducing people to the wonders of the ecosystems of the Charleston area by providing guided tours and educational opportunities. If you’re looking to explore all that the Lowcountry has to offer, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! We also offer kid-friendly tours as well as kids programs, camps, and kayak lessons. Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!