Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 1 9 38 Take the recently posted video of Utah biologists releasing a young bob- cat caught because it was eating chickens (See "Murderbritches"). As ambush predators, bobcats typically target smaller mammals like rabbits and rodents. In the spring they hunt deer fawns, larger males in the northern part of their ranges have even been documented taking adult deer, an impressive feat for a animal who weighs between 15-35 lbs! Here in Montana at least one bobcat has gained notoriety for an unusual hunting strategy, capturing waterfowl in winter. In recent years, at least one bobcat has taken up residence along the Madison River in Yellowstone National Park. Patiently waiting in the snow, the cat pounces into the water, capturing unsuspecting ducks who float by. ough this hunting strategy may seem surprising to cat owners who know their domestic felines to be water averse, many wild felines, including moun- tain lions and leopards will readily pursue prey into water. Regardless, the Madison River bobcat's showy hunting style has led to a surge in bobcat- specific tourism during the winter, with a whopping economic impact of $308,105 per year to the surrounding communities according to research published in the Journal Biodiversity and Conservation. REPRODUCTION AND YOUNG ough bobcats are highly adaptable to different food sources, their overall population depends on its abundance. Our harsh winters constrain most mating opportunities to February and March, though it is possible during other times of year. Successful breeding is likely tied to prey abil- ity. When food is scarce, pregnancy rates can drop significantly. However, when enough food is present, courting bobcats exhibit playful behavior similar to house cats. ey may run, chase, and pounce upon each other before mating as many as 16 times in one day! After a two month gestation period, kittens are born in well hidden and protected den sites. Bobcat mothers select fallen trees with dense branches, boulder fields with tiny openings and other hidden areas to leave helpless kittens, which she must leave while hunting for the first five weeks. Males are long departed by this time and do not assist with rear- ing young. Ever careful to protect her kittens, bobcat mothers will move them to new den sites multiple times during this time, helping to reduce predation and parasite build up. After seven months, the juveniles usually disperse, heading out into the wild on their own for the first time. Today bobcat populations seem to be increasing in many areas of their range. Studies estimate around 3.5 million cats across the country, a testa- ment to their highly adaptable nature. ough we do not often see these reclusive cats they are all around us, making the most of the changing world around them. "Wilderness without wildlife is mere scenery" ~ LOIS CRISLER Photo of a bobcat taken in a controlled area by Rick Sheremeta Bobcats long jump in YNP www.distinctlymontana.com/bobcat192 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL

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