B. D. Leopold

Energy utilization of natural prey items by Mississippi bobcats (Felis rufus) was measured and annual prey requirements were estimated. Male and female bobcats were fed 5 diets of natural prey items, December 1990-February 1991. There were significant differences in amount of energy (kcal) in prey items, with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) meat (5.7295) greater (P < 0.05) than fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) (5.0304). The deer diet also was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than the rodent diet and the rabbit and rodent diets in metabolizable energy (ME) and metabolizable...

Fifteen bobcats (10 females, 5 males) were monitored using radio telemetry from 1 January 1989-31 December 1991 in east-central Mississippi. Male composite home ranges (HR) averaged 36.5 km2 (S.E. = 12.7) while female HR's averaged 20.6 km2 (S.C. = 7.7). Composite and seasonal HR sizes differed between sexes (P = 0.03 and P < 0.001, respectively). HR's were larger during the 1989 post-parturition (1 May-31 Aug) and fall (1 Sept-31 Dec) seasons than during most other seasons (P < 0.05). Intersexual HR overlap occurred during 5 of 9 seasons. Female-female HR overlap occurred during 3...

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hens were monitored by telemetry from January 1987 through August 1988 in Kemper County, Mississippi. Thirty-nine of 52 hens reached incubation. Nesting success was 46% in 1987 and 36% in 1988. In 1987, all 12 located nests were in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations. Eleven hens nested in 17- to 19-year-old plantations; I hen nested in a 9-year-old plantation. In 1988,21 located nests were in plantations and I hen was in a mature pine-hardwood forest. Most hens (81 %) nested in plantations age 13-20 years old. Plantations used for nesting had been...

The eyes of bobcat (Felis rufus) kittens opened between 9 and 16 days of age in 3 stages (watering, beginning to open, and complete opening) lasting 1-2 days each. Birth weights averaged 125 g. Growth curves peaked at 60 weeks (x¯ = 10 kg) for males and at 55 weeks (x¯ = 8 kg) for females. Log transformations of nose to rump length, and front leg length were highly correlated with age (r ≥ 0.94).