Rabbit Population- Cats move? or die?

[Ker_man]

One of Mr Dwalton's posts led to a lot of talk about rabbits.
I've been wondering when there is a die off, will the cat population move until they find rabbits/hares or remain local and the ones that can't feed on alternate food sources die off?, Terry

[dwalton]

They do move some but I think the kittens will die off. I have seen studies on the Canadian Lynx there population is tied to the snowshoes. It said that they are a year behind the bust and boom of the snowshoes. I think our bobs don't have big litters and a high mortality rate with a poor rabbit population. Bobcat I think have a far greater choice of food to eat compared to the lynx. Dewey

[twist]

I believe that some cats may move to better food sources but some will stay in their home area, with less food some females I believe may not have litters or if so the amount is much smaller along with servival rate. jmo. Andy

[Dads dogboy]

Very well said Twist and Mr. Dewey! We agree with both of you on this!

[Ker_man]

Thank you gentlemen for the replies, though in the north east the cats have probably been more dependent on the hare than in some other areas. Up until the last year there have been a lot of deer that were very few when I was growing up and the turkeys have been moving in.
A funny thing about the hare population, there was an old man that bought snared hares (here) and resold them in an area 3 or 4 hours away. He handled a pile of them. A lot of locals snared and sold to him and I was hearing people complaining that he would clean out the hare. I never knew what a die off was while he did this for maybe 20 years. The first die off I remember was after he stopped and it lasted a long time, Terry

[CRA]

It is been proven in some states when the rabbit population crashes that the bobcats move territories and look for an alternate food source. In my home state of California I make it a habit to check every Bobcat that I harvest stomach contents. What I've noticed out of the bobcats I've checked over the years is that only a few that I documented had rabbit in their stomach contents. The figures I came up with was 99% of the bobcats that I caught bellies were filled with pack rats or nothing at all. Some of the pack rats appeared to not even been hardly chewed up and almost whole.
I know that the Bobcats food source varies from state to state and in some states, for example the state of Wyoming or Montana the bobcat’s second food source would probably be the prairie dog towns. It is very important for a Bobcat to have a multiple species food source in their diet to keep their B vitamins up. This helps them reproduce a lot better and makes them a healthier cat.
I was always taught that the best way to learn the Bobcat is to know what they're feeding on. If you do have snow try following their tracks on foot. It will teach you alot about the bobcat. In my country it will normally lead you from packrat nest to packrat nest in the western desert. I can normally tell when my hounds are trailing a cat, just what the cat is feeding on because of their movement patterns. If the bobcats are zigzagging in and out of the heavy junipers, normally he's feeding on packrat's. If the Bobcat holds tight to the rock jumbles, and rim rocks they are normally feeding on cottontail rabbits and pack rats they both use those rock jumbles as homes. The cottontail rabbit will very seldom leave their comfort zone, and their comfort zone in my country is tall high tight sage brush or rock jumbles. Rock jumbles provides the cottontail rabbit safety from bobcats, fox, and coyotes but also provides safety from aerial birds like the Owl, Eagle, and Hawk. The high sagebrush in my country is kind of rare but when you find it, next to rock jumbles and rim rocks it normally holds a good pocket of cottontail rabbits. When you find the rabbits you will normally find the bobcats. I believe that because of the dangers that a Bobcat risks exposing itself in the open sage to try and catch a jackrabbit it is too risky for them to do because of all the added dangers like man, coyote, eagles, and hawks. I've noticed that in the more open sage rim rock desert cats will do most of their movement during the night, where I've noticed that in the thicker heavier covered country bobcats will often feed in the daylight hours as well as night.
One other thing I'd like to mention that I've noticed is bobcats don't feed every day. This will answer some of your questions as to why you're not getting strikes on a consistent basis. Bobcats are lazy animals and if they get in a rock jumble that holds a lot of prey species they will seldom travel out of that area, unless of course breeding season is on. Sometimes it is necessary to go to the bobcats on foot where they are holed up if you want to get a race. Truck hunting can be successful but walking in their territories almost guarantees you a race. So if you love the comforts of your hunting rig and refuse to leave it dont get too worked up when you dont get a strike. The road cats are always the first to go when season opens.
One of the worst enemies that a Bobcat can have are of its own kind a mature male living in the same area as the female that's trying to raise her kittens. Mature males can actually limit a Bobcat population in an area. Eagles raise havoc with the Bobcat population and the Eagle population has exploded because they are unable to be managed. Coyotes are another predator that if to numerous in an area it wont allow the bobcats to do very well. The canine, feline relationship is well known and the coyote harassment can keep bobcats out of some areas, as well as killing kittens. In the wooded areas another Bobcat enemy is Owl's. They will kill Bobcat kittens and also compete with bobcats for the same food source.
Another enemy of a Bobcat is a Mountain Lion. Mountain Lion will kill and eat every Bobcat that they can hunt down. I've noticed that in my area in the last 10 years the Gray Fox have slowly moved into the territory and it seems to me that it caused the Bobcat population to drop. I believe it's because when a female Bobcat is out on her hunt to feed herself and kittens the Gray Fox will swoop in and kill her kittens. Gray foxes normally live and hunt the same rock jumbles that a female Bobcat would choose as a good place to give birth to her kittens. I also believe that the droughts that we've been faced with over the last decade have caused our bobcat population to drop and the reproduction rate to drop.
These are just my observations on the Bobcat based on what I believe plays a role on the bobcat population in the High Deserts of California. I believe a Bobcat is a Bobcat no matter what state it's in, their same ingrained natural bred in characteristics still apply. The only thing that changes is the terrain around them.
These are just my observations and theories from hunting bobcats for a lifetime. Please don’t tar and feather me for adding my observations and beliefs.

[Ker_man]

Thanks for your theory CRA. The tar is better kept for roofs and roads . I've also noticed that northern cats will visit every porcupine den in the woods though I think only certain cats can handle them. Terry

Oh yeah I saw a trail cam picture with a big cat and a coyote at a bait and the coyote left first.
Sorry Mr CRA I guess I got the CRC going.

[slowandeasy]

cra, the cover might change from state to state but i believe ya pretty much nailed it. except for the porkys and birds. i have watched one out the window of my sisters house actually crouch in the brush and not even wait for the birds to land on the ground, he will sit with that little tail going back and forth slowly. and when a bird got on a limb that he can jump to he jumps and takes a swipe at it. i have seen him twice try but never succeed. i would think with all the quail here they must get lucky once in a while. but don't know how big of a percentage of their diet they are. take care

[Dads dogboy]

CRA,

Very well said!

What you have described, I feel is appropriate for Bobcat through out their Range.

We too agree that the Pack Rat or Wood Rat is a close second on a Bobcats diet list. Dad opened the stomachs on well over 5,000 bobcat from the mid 60s into the 80s. While Rabbits were most often found, Rats and birds were a close second.

Individual Bobcat develop a taste for Deer, Turkeys or domestic livestock or fowl. In areas with large populations of Feral Hogs an individual Bobcat can develop the skill to work on the Pigs and young adults. A Bobcat is almost as adaptable in diet as a Coyote; it just does not like the carrion, insects, berries and nuts that a Yote will feed on if necessary.

Thanks for contributing to the site with a very well written and thought out Post. It is always good to see a newer contributor, but having some one with your experience and knowledge is an added bonus! Thanks again!

[dwalton]

CRA: You do have knowledge of cats from a life time of hunting and see things that most of us would miss. I think you see the complete picture of mother nature. We all could learn from you thanks for sharing. I hope to see more of your post on here in the future. I will be watching for them. I see from your writing you are a person when you speak or write we all should be listening. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. Dewey

[South Texan]

CRA
GREAT Post! Thanks for sharing your wisdom. I too, will be watching for your next post. Thanks again. Robbie