Bobcat Food Habit Response to a Change in Prey Abundance

An analysis of 125 bobcat (Lynx rufus) stomachs collected from January through June in 1971 and 1972 revealed marked differences in food habits between the two years. In 1971 the total diet was composed of 21 different species, over 80% of which consisted of cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus). In 1972 only six different species were recorded, and over 96% of the diet was comprised of cotton rats and cottontails. Both of these species were present in very low numbers in 1971, but both underwent an apparent dramatic population increase in 1972. All other prey species for which we have availability data also either increased or remained approximately stable in 1972, but the bobcats took primarily cotton rats and cottontails to the almost total exclusion of all else. Based on Chi-square tests comparing availability to selectivity, the cotton rat was the only species taken in direct proportion to its occurrence. All other species except bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) and wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) were taken disproportionately less than their abundance would indicate.