Lloyd B. Fox

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...