Jf. Kamler et Ps. Gipson, Home range, habitat selection, and survival of Bobcats, Lynx rufus, in a prairie ecosystem in Kansas, CAN FIELD-N, 114(3), 2000, pp. 388-394
Ten Bobcats (Lynx rufus), five males and five females, were radio-collared
and monitored in a prairie ecosystem in northeastern Kansas from October 19
95 to March 1998 to determine seasonal home range sizes, seasonal habitat s
election, and survival. Home ranges of resident Bobcats overlapped among an
d between sexes, and sizes of home ranges did not differ between seasons. T
he composite home range of a resident male (20.0 km(2)) was more than twice
as large as resident females (7.5 +/- 0.8 km(2)). Transient Bobcats had mu
ch larger (57.1 +/- 15.8 km(2)) and less well defined home ranges, whereas
kittens had the smallest home ranges (7.0 +/- 3.5 km(2)). Resident Bobcats
preferred grasslands in summer despite their lack of adaptations for open a
reas. In winter, resident Bobcats preferred woodlands possibly because of r
educed food resources and greater competition with other predators. Transie
nt Bobcats and a male kitten tended to avoid habitats that were preferred b
y resident Bobcats. Annual survival for resident Bobcats (1.00) was more th
an twice as high as for transient or dispersing Bobcats (0.46).