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| Life Span: in the wild they live to be about 13 years old and in captivity 22 years old Statistics: Color ranges from gray to yellowish-brown or reddish-brown (grayer in winter), with indistict dark spotting. Short stubby tail, with 2 or 3 black bars and black tip above; pale or white below. Upper legs have dark or black horizontal bars. Face has thin, often broken black lines radiating onto broud cheeks ruff. Ears slightly tuffed. Male larger than female. Breeding: Mates from February to March. Gestation is 50-70 days. Young are born late April .. early May. Litter size 1-7 (usually 2-3). Kittens are independant after 1 year. Behavior: Bobcats are found only in North America where it is the most common wild cat. They are solitary animals except during mating season. Secretive and are most active at dusk and dawn. They rely on vision and hearing to detect prey. Male territories are 2-3 times larger than females. Male ranges will overlap many female ranges and also may overlap other male ranges. Females will not overlap other female rangers. Bobcats are expert climbers, but spend less time in trees than lynxes, resting by day in a rock cleft, thicket, or other hiding place. Its motted fur gives excellent camoflage; if hard pressed bobcats will swim. It marks its range using urine (in large or small amounts that it may cover up), feces (also sometives covered up), anal gland scent, and scrapes and scratches. It uses the same hunting pathways repeatedly to prey mostly on the Snowshoe hare (in northern US) and cottontails (in eastern US), but also on mice, squirrels, Woodchucks, Virginia Opossums, moles, shrews, Common Raccoons, foxes, domestic cats, birds, reptiles, Common Porcupines, and even skunks. The Bobcat, like many larger predators, can fast for some time when food is not available, but eats heavily when it is. The animal consumes small prey immediately, but caches and revists larger kills. The Bobcat and the Lynx are capable of killing prey as large as deer, but they seldom do so except in deep snow, when food is scarce, or when fawns are availabel. The Bobcat hunts small prey by waiting for victims motionlessly and then pouncing; pursues medium-size animals from a hunting bed or lookout, attacking by stalking and then rushing, or by simply rushing; and seeks large prey such as deer when they are bedded down. After a rush, the Bobcat will bite at the throat, base of skull, and chest. Occasionally the species preys upon livestock, especially poultry. When food is scarce the Bobcat will eat carrion, carrion, usually animals killed by cars or by hunters. This wildcat has a natal or maternal den and other auxiliary or shelter dens in less visited portions of its home range. The natal den, with a nest of leaves or other dry vegetation, is often in a cave or rock shelter, if available, but can be in a hollow log, under a fallen tree, or in another protected place. Brush piles, rock ledges, stumps, hollow logs, or similar protected places serve as auxiliary dens. Like the Lynx, the Bobcat is a sloitary animal, the sexes coming together only for mating. The Bobcat generally does not mate until its second year. Males are sexually active all year, but most females are in heat in Februalry or March. More than one male may be attracted to a female; the female and dominant male may mate several times after a series of chases and "ambushes." The other males remain apart during matings, but the female may mate with them later. The young are well furred and spotted at birth. The begin exploring at one month and are weaned at two. By fall they are hunting on their own, but remain with the mother for nearly a year. The variopus calls of the Bobcat sound much like those of the domestic cat, although its scream is piercing. When threatened, the animal utters a short, sudden, and resonant "cough-bark." It yowls loudest and most often during the breeding season. Humans (who hunt Bobcats with hounds in some areas) and the automobile are this animal's worst enemies, but predators such as foxes, owls and adult male Bobcats may attack the young. Populations are stable in many northern states and are reviving in other states where intensive trapping formerly decimated the species. In some states, such as New Jersey, the Bobcat is being reestablished. Has been observed laying in wait without moving for 7 hours waiting for prey Morning Star wins Evening Star by the Skidi Pawnee In the beginning there was only Tirawahat, which is the Universe and everything in it. Morning Star (Venus) and the Sun and the other males in sky were in favor of creating the world but Evening Star (Venus) and the Moon and the females were against it. To win the debate it was clear that Morning Star would have to win the heart of Evening Star. Many had failed,she was guarded by the Wolf (Sirius), Cougar (Auriga), Bear (Sagittarius) Bobcat (Procyon), and worst of all the Snake (Scorpius). One by one Moring Star defeated them and won the hand of Evening Star. And so the world was created. Keen Eye Sight .... Sensitive Whiskers .... Tuffed Ears .... Spots senses on alert .... while being hidden Look for what is hidden. Learn when to be solitary and when to be social. fast lessons ....by 7mnths bobcat has learned to hund ..by 9mnths has left its family subtlety, silence, secretiveness, elusiveness, Guardian knower of secrets, teaches clairvoyance and a particular typs of 'knowing' It teaches how to be a silent and still observer of the hidden. Cautious in speech and action, finds strength in silence and observation. See inner workings and talents, the positive and negative equally as clear. Very difficult to understand Animal Spirit ..One must learn the language to understand what this Spirit is saying. Things we are blind to can be revealed thru this medicine ... special clairvoyant knowing ... able to shift thru spiritual doorways Bobcat holds the secrets of the universe (Etched circle on face. 3rd type of Akasha crystal) silence empowers concentration .. Direction North .. Element Earth All things that have to do with the hidden unseen world to be continued . . . . |
| Bobcat, Red Lynx, Bay Lynx, Gve (ga-hay) gentle eyes of mystery .. in twilights mists neither day nor night you consist in secrecy exist easily missed so small of stature you twist thru glades and shadows prey persist desiring to be dismissed but loving to be kissed observer of man .. keeper of secrets seeker of comets and the orbits of planets queen of harlots no limits no favorites hiding true self in thickets surrounded by spirits to escape the bullets quiet of walk .. not one for display gve (ga-hay) knows the feeling of words that say prefering to play in twighlights ray not wanting to obey not one who betrays keeps to the presence of Yahowah Yahowah is Cherokee for G-d |