WASSMER ET AL.: SOUTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA BOBCAT ECOLOGY 161

 Capture Success............................ ......................................................... ........................ 171
 Demographic Characteristics................. ................................................................. 173
 D density .................................................. ......................... .................................................... 173
 Sex and A ge R atios ................................ ............................................................................ 173
 B reading Season ............................................................ ................................................... 175
 N atality......................................................................... .. ........................ 175
 M ortality and Injuries....................... ............................................................................ 176
 Longevity ................................................................. .. ......................... 181
 F ood H ab its ............................................................................................................................. 181
 Home Range and Social Organization.......................................................................... 184
 H om e R ange Size........................................................... .................................................. 184
 Use of Area Within Home Ranges.............................................. ............................. 189
 Relationships Between Adult Home Ranges............................... ............................ 189
 Female-Young Behavior and Home Range Use........................... ............................ 198
 D aily T ravel ......................................... ..................................................................................... 205
 A activity .......................................................................... ........................ 208
 H ab itat U se.................................................... ..................................... ............................... 2 12
 M parking B behavior .................................................................................. .................................. 217
 Frequency of Types of Marking Behavior.................... ...... ............................ 217
 Seasonal and Yearly Variation in Marking.................................. ............................ 217
 Spatial Patterns of Marking Behavior................................................ ......................... 220
Conservation and Management Implications............................................ ............................. 223
L literature C ited ....................................................................................................................................... 225




 INTRODUCTION


 Previous studies of the bobcat (Felis nifits) in the southeastern United
States (e.g. Buie et al. 1979, Hall 1973, Kitchings and Story 1979, 1984,
Marshall 1969, Miller 1980) and in other parts of North America (e.g. Bailey
1972, 1974, 1979, Lawhead 1978, Zezulak and Schwab 1979) have revealed
considerable geographic variation in habitat relationships, movement patterns,
population levels, and other aspects of the species' ecology and behavior. Such
variability emphasizes the need for basic ecological and life history data from
many populations throughout the bobcat's range in order to gain a more
complete understanding of the basic biology of the species and its role in
natural and man-modified ecosystems. Increasing pressure on the bobcat by
the fur trade (National Wildlife Federation 1977) together with habitat loss in
many parts of the range also have created a need for more detailed
information on population dynamics, habitat requirements, and other
ecological and life history parameters of regional populations to provide the
basis for more effective management.
 Although numerous references to local distribution and general habits of
 the bobcat appear in the published literature on Florida mammals, there have
 been few detailed studies of specific aspects of its biology in the state. The
 principal objective of this study was to obtain baseline data on demographic