Bobcat (Lynx rufus) is in the Felids family (Felidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 39,055 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Bobcat: observations by month (U.S.)
About Bobcat
The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a North American cat that appeared during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago (AEO). Containing 12 recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to central Mexico, including most of the contiguous United States. The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as well as semidesert, urban edge, forest edge, and swampland environments. It remains in some of its original range, but populations are vulnerable to local...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Bobcat by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 15,812 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Texas | 6,080 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Arizona | 2,500 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Florida | 1,662 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Connecticut | 1,565 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Oregon | 1,075 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Colorado | 829 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Vermont | 788 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Nebraska | 755 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Massachusetts | 635 | January | Dec–Nov |
| New York | 594 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Washington | 563 | March | Feb–Jan |
| New Hampshire | 534 | January | Dec–Nov |
| North Carolina | 457 | November | Oct–Sep |
| New Mexico | 443 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Tennessee | 396 | May | Apr–Mar |
| Alabama | 306 | January | Sep–Jul |
| Virginia | 246 | March | Feb–Jan |
| Michigan | 241 | December | Nov–Oct |
| Georgia | 233 | May | Oct–Jul |
| Nevada | 232 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Minnesota | 230 | January | May–Mar |
| Wisconsin | 216 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Ohio | 206 | January | Apr–Feb |
| Pennsylvania | 187 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Maine | 183 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Louisiana | 180 | April | Jul–May |
| Utah | 158 | December | Nov–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 152 | June | May–Apr |
| Kentucky | 151 | June | May–Apr |
| Missouri | 148 | October | Sep–Aug |
| South Carolina | 139 | January | Aug–Jun |
| New Jersey | 133 | February | Nov–Sep |
| Illinois | 127 | January | Jan–Jun |
| Mississippi | 119 | December | Apr–Feb |
| Kansas | 114 | May | Apr–Mar |
| West Virginia | 108 | March | Jan–May |
| Indiana | 100 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Arkansas | 98 | March | Oct–Mar |
| Montana | 80 | January | Jul–May |
| Rhode Island | 71 | August | Dec–Oct |
| Idaho | 63 | July | Jun–Nov |
| Iowa | 60 | October | Sep–Feb |
| Maryland | 34 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Wyoming | 33 | January | Jan–Feb |
| South Dakota | 17 | May | Mar–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Felids)
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Bobcat?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from December to November.
Where is Bobcat most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Arizona.