WASSMER ET AL.: SOUTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA BOBCAT ECOLOGY


her behavior appeared not to differ significantly from that of wild bobcats. Various aspects of
the behavior of this individual were reported by Winegarner (1985a).


 Study Techniques


 The principal study method was radiotelemetry, but additional data were obtained from
tracking, sightings, and observations of sign. The mean number of records (including trap
captures, radio fixes, and sightings) for individual bobcats was 320, with a range of 7 to 1248. The
mean interval between the first and last records of marked cats was 327 days, with a range of 9 to
1143 days.
 Most of the radiotracking was done from a 4-wheel drive vehicle equipped with a marine
compass mounted on the dash and an 8-element, dual-Yagi null peak antenna system mounted
through the roof so that it could be rotated from within. A hand-held, collapsible, 4-element Yagi
antenna also occasionally was used to approach a stationary bobcat during the day in a rest site
away from a road. Radio collars, manufactured by AVM Instrument Company or Davidson
Electronics, weighed 127-185 g, had a pulse rate of 60-121 beats/minute, and transmitted in the
150-151 mHz range. Collar antennas were either external whip-type or copper alloy bands
incorporated into the collar material. Most of the positions of radio-collared bobcats were
determined by triangulation at distances less than 1 km. Guenther (1980) found that at a
distance of 1 km triangulation was accurate to within an area of about 4 ha. Data recorded for
each radio fix included date, time, weather, and activity state (moving or inactive) based on the
nature of the signal.
 Intensive radiotracking was conducted from April 1979 through December 1981. A total of
5344 radio locations was obtained on the 17 instrumented bobcats over the 32-month period.
Tracking was conducted at all hours of the day and night. Emphasis was placed on monitoring
significant events such as male-female interactions or movements of a female with newborn young
rather than on locating each individual at some fixed time schedule. Individuals were monitored
for periods ranging from 15 minutes to 24 hours for 1 to 35 consecutive days separated by
intervals of usually less than a week. Following the termination of major field work at the end of
December 1981, we continued to monitor on a less regular basis the movements of several
individuals by radiotracking until March 1981, and by sightings and tracks until December 1984.
 Trailing bobcats on foot provided additional information on movements and activities of
particular individuals; marking behavior; litter size; adult male-adult female and female-young
interactions; and the presence, sex, and age of unmarked cats. The probable presence of
unmarked bobcats on the study area was assumed from the occurrence of tracks that did not
match those of known individuals. If tracks believed to be of the same unmarked individual were
repeatedly found on the study area, that individual was considered a resident. When such tracks
consistently occurred at the periphery of an instrumented bobcat's home range, the unknown cat
was assumed to be of the same sex as the marked individual. If the unknown tracks were within
the interior of the range of a collared cat, the unknown individual was assumed to be of the
opposite sex. This interpretation is based on the findings of Lawhead (1978), Miller (1980) and
other investigators that same-sexed bobcats exhibit very little range overlap while opposite-sexed
individuals may exhibit substantial overlap. On the basis of this assumption portions of the range
boundaries of several bobcats were determined prior to their capture. Lembeck (1978) also used
this method to identify the sex and to estimate the range of an unmarked bobcat on his study
area and later confirmed the sex and range estimate by capturing and radiotracking the
individual.
 Three types of marking behavior recognized in this study included:
 1) Scrapes: Distinctive elongate ruts or ploughedd" areas in the soil or
 litter made by alternating rearward thrusts of the hind feet with the
 body in a semi-squatting position and usually containing either feces or
 urine.
 2) Urine marking: Deposition of urine onto the substrate or objects on
 the ground from a squatting position (squat-urination) or spraying it on
 above-ground objects from an upright posture (spray-urination).