Population Characteristics and Food Habits of Bobcats in West Virginia

The age structure of 227 bobcats (Lynx rufus) collected from hunters and trappers in West Virginia during the 1977-78 season was dominated by young animals. Juveniles and yearlings constituted 46.7% and 23.3% of the sample respectively. All females> 1 year old had ovulated and had 4.0 ± 0.2 (X ± SE) current year luteal bodies. Yearlings had 1.75 ± 0.27 placental scars, which was significantly less (P <0.05) than the 3.4 ± 0.4 of 2-year-olds or the 2.63 ± 0.27 of bobcats ≥3 years old. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and lagomorphs comprised 45% and 19% of the stomach contents by weight, respectively.