MEET THE BOBCAT
Along with the panther, the wild bobcat is one of two predatory big cats native to the Florida region. The bobcat is more common and much smaller than the panther, which is rarely sighted in the wild. Bobcats are found throughout the state from the deepest swamps to suburban backyards. The bobcat is one of several wild creatures that still call Florida home.
The Florida wild bobcat, or Felidae rufus Floridanus, is immediately identifiable by its short tail (or bob) and the fringes of fur that outline the sides of its head. It weighs between 13 and 30 pounds and has a tail with white on its underside and black markings on its top side. The Florida bobcat has spots of white fur on all parts of its fur, which can range in color from reddish-brown to grey. The adult bobcat can grow to about 50 inches in length and stands 21 inches tall on average. With a maximum adult weight of 35 pounds, the bobcat is similar in size to a young Florida panther for which it is sometimes mistaken