The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a native wild cat of Illinois. These medium-sized felines are easily distinguishable by their short, “bobbed” tail, tufted ears, and a tawny coat often spotted or streaked with black or brown. Weighing between 10 and 40 pounds, males are substantially larger than females, making the bobcat roughly twice the size of a typical domestic house cat. They are primarily solitary and nocturnal hunters, which is why they are rarely seen despite their growing population.
The Return of Bobcats in Illinois
The presence of a healthy bobcat population in Illinois today is a significant turnaround from their near-extinction in the mid-20th century. Unregulated hunting and widespread habitat destruction led to a dramatic decline in the bobcat population, nearly extirpating them from the state by the 1970s. In response to their low numbers, the bobcat was first protected in 1972 and was officially listed as a state-threatened species in 1977.
This protected status, combined with improved land management practices, allowed the population to slowly recover over two decades. By the late 1990s, bobcat sightings increased across the state, confirming a successful population rebound. Consequently, the species was removed from the threatened list in 1999 and reclassified as a managed furbearer.
The population continued to expand, and by 2016, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) initiated the state’s first regulated hunting and trapping season in over 40 years. This management approach is intended to maintain a stable or growing population while allowing for a controlled harvest. Numbers are estimated to be around 5,000 individuals.
Where Bobcats Roam
Bobcats are highly adaptable, but their distribution across Illinois is not uniform, with the highest concentrations found in specific regions. Historically, and still today, they are most numerous in the southern third of the state, particularly in counties near the Shawnee National Forest. Their numbers are also substantial along major river corridors and in the forested areas of western and parts of central Illinois.
Bobcats prefer habitats that offer dense cover for hunting and denning, such as heavily wooded areas, river bottomlands, and swamps. They also utilize the edges of forests and fields, which provide access to prey. While documented in 99 of Illinois’s 102 counties, they are less likely to be found in vast, open agricultural fields or densely populated urban centers.
Their diet primarily consists of small mammals, which are abundant in their preferred habitats. Main prey includes rabbits, mice, voles, and squirrels. Bobcats also occasionally consume birds, reptiles, and deer, often targeting fawns or sick animals that require less energy to take down.
Coexisting with Bobcats
Bobcats are shy and elusive, making human sightings uncommon and the risk of conflict low. They are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk, which limits human encounters. Their instinct is to avoid people, and they pose very little threat to human safety.
Minimizing potential conflicts involves removing attractants that might draw a bobcat closer to residential areas. Pet owners should secure small domestic animals, especially cats and small dogs, by keeping them indoors or supervising them closely at dawn and dusk. Securing garbage cans and keeping pet food and water bowls indoors prevents bobcats and other wildlife from associating human residences with easy meals.
If a sighting occurs, maintain a distance and allow the animal to move away on its own. If a bobcat does not immediately retreat, making loud noises, yelling, or flashing bright lights will scare it off.