Editing Bobcat (section)

==Distribution and habitat==
[[File:Bobcatonwires.jpg|thumb|right|Bobcat in urban surroundings, seen here climbing on a telegraph pole at the [[Kennedy Space Center]]. The species' range does not seem to be limited by human populations, as long as it can still find a suitable habitat.]]

The bobcat is an adaptable species. It prefers woodlands—[[deciduous]], [[coniferous]], or mixed—but does not depend exclusively on the deep forest. It ranges from the humid swamps of Florida to desert lands of Texas or rugged mountain areas. It makes its home near agricultural areas, if rocky ledges, swamps, or forested tracts are present; its spotted coat serves as camouflage.<ref name=Whitaker/> The population of the bobcat depends primarily on the population of its prey; other principal factors in the selection of habitat type include protection from severe weather, availability of resting and den sites, dense cover for hunting and escape, and freedom from disturbance.<ref name=Proposal>{{cite web |url=http://www.cites.org/common/cop/13/raw_props/US-Lynx%20rufus.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102215719/http://www.cites.org/common/cop/13/raw_props/US-Lynx%20rufus.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 2, 2013 |title=Deletion of Bobcat (''Lynx rufus'') from Appendix II |access-date=May 31, 2007 |date=October 2004 |work=Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties, Proposal 5 |publisher=[[Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora]]}}</ref>

The bobcat's range does not seem to be limited by human populations, but by availability of suitable habitat; only large, intensively cultivated tracts are unsuitable for the species.<ref name=CAP/> The animal may appear in back yards in "urban edge" environments, where human development intersects with natural habitats.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/samo/learn/nature/bobcats.htm |title=Bobcats: Living on the Urban Edge |access-date=June 18, 2007 |publisher=[[National Park Service]], [[U.S. Department of the Interior]] |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013114432/http://www.nps.gov/samo/naturescience/bobcats.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> If chased by a dog, it usually climbs up a tree.<ref name=Whitaker/>

The historical range of the bobcat was from southern Canada, throughout the United States, and as far south as the Mexican state of [[Oaxaca]], and it still persists across much of this area. In the 20th century, it was thought to have lost territory in the US [[Midwest]] and parts of the Northeast, including southern Minnesota, eastern South Dakota, and much of Missouri, mostly due to habitat changes from modern agricultural practices.<ref name="cons" /><ref name="CAP" /><ref name="Whitaker" /> While thought to no longer exist in western New York and Pennsylvania, multiple confirmed sightings of bobcats (including dead specimens) have been recently reported in New York's [[Southern Tier]] and in [[central New York]], and a bobcat was captured in 2018 on a tourist boat in Downtown [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-post-standard/2007/03-31/ | title = Elusive Bobcat Creeps into Region | author = Tobin, Dave | date = May 31, 2007 | work = Syracuse Post-Standard | access-date = June 26, 2007 | archive-date = March 4, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304133216/http://newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-post-standard/2007/03-31/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/03/18/bobcat-found-at-gateway-clipper/ | title = Bobcat Found On Gateway Clipper Boat Removed By Animal Control | author = Allen, Bob | date = March 18, 2018 | work = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | access-date = March 19, 2018 | archive-date = March 19, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180319214712/http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/03/18/bobcat-found-at-gateway-clipper/ | url-status = live }}</ref> In addition, bobcat sightings have been confirmed in northern Indiana, and one was killed near Albion, Michigan, in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Jackson Citizen Patriot |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/citpat/index.ssf?/base/news-26/1224929140178170.xml&coll=3 |title=Bobcat killed near Albion |publisher=MLive.com |date=October 25, 2008 |access-date=February 15, 2009 |archive-date=December 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210074957/http://www.mlive.com/news/citpat/index.ssf?/base/news-26/1224929140178170.xml&coll=3 |url-status=live }}</ref> In early March 2010, a bobcat was sighted (and later captured by animal control authorities) in a parking garage in downtown [[Houston]].<ref>{{cite web |work=Houston Chronicle |url=http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/heights-news/article/Bobcat-caught-in-downtown-Houston-garage-1718822.php |title=Bobcat captured in Houston parking garage |publisher=chron.com |date=March 2, 2010 |access-date=March 3, 2010 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107114310/http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/heights-news/article/Bobcat-caught-in-downtown-Houston-garage-1718822.php |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2010, bobcats appear to have recolonized many states, occurring in every state in the contiguous 48 except Delaware.<ref name=iucn />

The bobcat population in Canada is limited due to both snow depth and the presence of the Canada lynx. The bobcat does not tolerate deep snow, and waits out heavy storms in sheltered areas;<ref name=park>{{cite web | author = National Park Service. Yellowstone National Park | title = Bobcat | url = http://www.nps.gov/yell/nature/animals/Bobcat/Bobcat.html | access-date = August 24, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060523234925/http://www.nps.gov/yell/nature/animals/Bobcat/Bobcat.html |archive-date = May 23, 2006}}</ref> it lacks the large, padded feet of the Canada lynx and cannot support its weight on snow as efficiently. The bobcat is not entirely at a disadvantage where its range meets that of the larger felid: displacement of the Canada lynx by the aggressive bobcat has been observed where they interact in [[Nova Scotia]], while the clearing of coniferous forests for agriculture has led to a northward retreat of the Canada lynx's range to the advantage of the bobcat.<ref name=CAP/> In northern and central Mexico, the cat is found in dry [[scrubland]] and forests of pine and oak; its range ends at the tropical southern portion of the country.<ref name=CAP/>