| Characteristics of order carnivora | -Digits with claws
-4 or more toes on each foot
-May have carnassial teeth
-Highly developed brain
-Simple stomach (monogastric)
-Os-penis or baculum present
-Diet includes meat, but many are actually omnivores |
| Characteristics of family felidae | -Digitigrade feet, haired below except the pads
-5 toes on front feet (1 high on leg), 4 on hind feet (front feet larger than hinds)
-Short, curved retractile claws
- Short, round skull
- Dentition – I 3/3 + C1/1 + P2/2 + M1/1 x 2 =
28 (except cougar P 3/2 = 30 teeth)
- Highly developed carnassials; grooved
canines |
| Cougar scientific name + subspecies name | Puma concolor (cougar) |
| Physical characteristics of cougar | - Generally reddish brown to tawny gray: VI – reddish; coastal – darkest; interior – palest
- White on muzzle, chest and belly
Long tail, >1/3 of body |
| Cougar habitat and home range | - Occupy wide range of habitats (generally follow prey)
-Dense forests for cover and rocky outcroppings for hunting
- Ranges vary, males usually 65-90 sq.km. Females 40-80 sq. km |
| Cougar behaviour | -Nocturnal hunters
-Solitary animals (except female with kittens)
-Mark territories with scratch piles and urination |
| Cougar hunting and food | -Stalk and pounce on prey
-Laid back ears, twitching tail, pumping legs = attack posture
-Will attack from rear and target neck
-Feed on internal organs first
-Will bury and return to carcass for repeated
feedings on meat |
| Management of cougars | - Bag limit usually 2
- Skull/hide must be submitted for CI
-may not shoot a cougar kitten or cougar in its company |
| Canada Lynx Scientific name | Lynx canadensis |
| Lynx physical characteristics | -gray in colour with brownish under hair
- Prominent black ear tufts and long hairs on each side of the lower face
- Short black-tipped tails and long legs with large feet |
| Lynx habitat | - old growth boreal forests
- Home ranges will vary with prey density, but may be up to 36 sq. km |
| Lynx food and feeding | - Mainly solitary, nocturnal hunters
- 75% of diet = snowshoe hare, especially in winter |
| Lynx reproduction | -Mating occurs in March
-Gestation is 60-65 days
-Up to 4 young are born in May (litter size usually 2-3)
-Female rears kittens for about 1 year |
| Lynx Management | - Important trapping species
- bag limit of 1 in most regions
Illegal to hunt a lynx accompanied by one or more lynx
-CI and reporting of lynx in some regions |
| Bobcat scientific name | Lynx rufus |
| Bobcat physical characteristics | - Smaller than the lynx
-Short legs and small feet
-Lack the prominent face ruff and ear tufts
-Pelage tawny brown with whitish underparts
-Black markings on body (spots and bars) are more
prominent than lynx |
| Which is the lynx and which is the bobcat? | a = Lynx
b = Bobcat |
| Bobcat habitat | Combination of dense coniferous forests for cover (especially in winter) and open areas (e.g., logged areas) for hunting |
| Bobcat feeding and food | primarily nocturnal hunters; will hunt during the day in winter
- rabbits and other small mammals (mice, squirrels), and birds |
| Bobcat reproduction | - Prolonged breeding season, lasting from Feb through March
- Gestation is 50-60 days and 2-3 kittens are born from April to May |
| Bobcat management | -CR or CI in some regions
-Illegal to hunt a bobcat accompanied by one or more bobcat |
