Dusty (Bobcat)
Lynx rufus
Bobcats
live in a variety of habitats like rocky hills with dense vegetation unlike the
lynx which prefers dense forests.
Bobcats are usually found below 8,000 feet. Bobcats are smaller than a lynx weighing only
15-35 pounds. They enjoy hunting
everything from rabbits, mice even insects.
Their shy, singular lifestyle makes them a rare sight in the wild.
Dusty arrived as a young bobcat several months after being handled
by a Good Samaritan for too long. We
tried to reverse the habituation to people.
Over the spring, we were able to successfully release six young bobcats;
however, Dusty was not one of them. He
is especially taken with people and will begin purring at the sight of those he
recognizes. He is playful with toys and
has little instinct to “kill” them.