ECOLOGY OF THE BOBCAT IN
 SOUTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA



 Douglas A. Wassmer, Del D. Guenther, and James N. Layne*




 ABSTRACT



 The ecology and life history of the bobcat (Felis nifiis) were studied on the protected
Archbold Biological Station and surrounding semi-developed land in south-central Florida from
1979 to 1982. Mean densities were 5 adult males, 8 adult females, and 13 juveniles/100 km .
Overall adult sex and age ratios were 0.64 male/female and 1.00 juvenile/adult, respectively.
Breeding occurred from August to March, with a peak in February and March. The mean size of
13 mobile litters was 2.6. Of 17 radio-collared cats, 9 died during the study, and 9 unmarked
individuals were found dead or reported killed in the study area. A higher proportion of
mortality (73%) was due to natural (feline panleucopenia and Notoedric mange) than to
man-related causes. Cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), marsh rabbits (S. palustris), and
cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) were the primary prey species, comprising 73% of the
occurrences of food items in scats and 86% of estimated prey biomass. Overall home ranges of 5
adult males and 7 adult females averaged 25.5 km and 14.5 km respectively. Short-term home
ranges during 12 intervals of 3 to 16 weeks averaged 14.5 km for males and 9.3 km for females.
Females tended to use their home ranges more intensively than did males, but males moved
farther from day to day than females. One adult female and one male adult were known to
abandon their ranges, the female's range apparently being acquired by her male and female
young. Adults of the same sex had non-overlapping home ranges, but ranges of males and
females overlapped extensively. Adult males and females with shared home range areas
occasionally travelled or rested together in all seasons. Activity was primarily crepuscular and
nocturnal. Seasonal variation in activity of males appeared to be related to temperature and in
females to care of young. Both sexes used natural vegetation types more than man-modified
habitats, with males using man-modified habitats relatively more than females. Marking behavior
varied seasonally and appeared to play a significant role in maintenance of home range
boundaries of adult males and adult females. Compared with data from other parts of the range,
the south-central Florida population had an average density comparable to values reported from

* Douglas A. Wassmer and Del D. Guenther conducted phases of this study for their M.S. degrees in the Department of
Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620. Their current addresses are: (DAW) 5106 Vinson, Tampa, Florida
33610; (DDG) N. 4220 Bessie Road, Spokane, Washington 99212. James N. Layne is Senior Research Biologist, Archbold
Biological Station, P. 0. Box 2057, Lake Placid, Florida 33852.


WASSMER, D.A., D.D. GUENTHER, and J.N. LAYNE. 1988. Ecology of the Bobcat in
South-central Florida. Bull. Florida State Mus., Biol. Sci. 33(4):159-228.