Bobcat Poo: Everything You Needed to Know

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The typical bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a medium-sized cat about twice the size of a domestic cat. It weighs 9 to 33 pounds and is about 25 to 40 inches long. Bobcats, also known as red bobcats or wildcats, are native to North America and like to prey on mice, rabbits, and deer.

They can be easily identified by their distinctive short tail and black stripes on both front legs.

Bobcats are solitary animals and they tend to avoid humans as much as possible. They are also nocturnal; when active, they may only be seen between dawn and dusk. Therefore, it can be challenging to confirm whether they have invaded a certain community.

However, bobcats are also territorial animals and like to mark their space with poop. In this article, we'll discuss how to identify bobcat poop.

What does bobcat poop look like?

There are many ways to identify bobcat droppings; we'll start with its texture. Bobcat poop can have different textures depending on whether it's wet or dry. When wet, the stool is smooth and shiny; when dry, it becomes hard and dark. Watery bobcat droppings indicate feral cats are not far away.

Also, footprints next to eyewitnesses confirmed that it was fresh bobcat poo. Not all droppings look the same, and their consistency and texture can vary depending on the food your bobcat eats. Also, if you only have one image or sample to compare, it can be harder to spot.

Speaking of color, bobcat poop is black or dark brown and looks similar to coyote poop. It is tubular in shape and usually looks like a long rope with shorter strands on either side. Bobcat poop is about three to five inches long, with blunt ends and a segment in the middle.

How does bobcat poop taste?

It depends on when they are found and whether they are accompanied by urine. If the bobcat poop has been dry for a long time, it is likely to be odorless. However, fresh bobcat poop along with urine can smell pungent. Bobcats typically cover their droppings with leaves, dirt, or dirt.

Does bobcat droppings pose a health risk to humans?

Checking bobcat droppings is still the best way to determine if they are around. However, extreme caution should be exercised when doing this, as their poo can pose a health risk. Bobcat feces can transmit disease to humans and pets, as they are common carriers of the Toxoplasma parasite, which causes toxoplasmosis.

Other bobcat-associated diseases include cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis (or beaver fever), and lynx zoon felis. Common symptoms of these disorders include loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and more.

Never check bobcat poop with bare hands to avoid these diseases—use a long stick instead. It is also important to wear gloves and a mask when handling bobcat feces.

What do bobcats eat?

Bobcats are carnivores with excellent hunting skills. While they enjoy eating rabbits, birds, hares, and smaller animals, bobcats may go after larger animals when their favorite food is scarce. Bobcats typically hunt their prey by stalking and ambushing them. Next, they'll pounce on them, pin them down, and bite them by the neck. Bobcats have excellent vision and hearing.

In snowy areas, bobcats eat mice, grouse, red squirrels, white-tailed deer, and snow hares. In desert areas, rabbits, raccoons, lizards and rock squirrels are their main diet.

How is bobcat poop different from that of other animals?

Knowing the difference between bobcat droppings and similar droppings from other animals is a great way to avoid confusion. Below we compare bobcat poop to that of cougars, bears, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, and hedgehogs.

• bobcat poop vs bobcat poop

The droppings of bobcats and bobcats look very similar, making them the hardest to tell apart on this list. This is mainly because they are the same length and color. Bobcats are of the genus Lynx and there is no sure way to tell the difference in their droppings.

• bobcat poop vs hedgehog poop

Unlike bobcat droppings, which are tubes, hedgehog droppings resemble shiny sausages. While bobcat droppings have blunt ends, hedgehog droppings will be found to be rounded at one end and narrow at the other. Hedgehogs feed on berries and insects, and people are likely to find traces of these foods in their droppings.

• bobcat poo vs. fox poo

Fox poop is shorter and thinner than bobcat poop; unlike bobcat poop, they have pointed ends. Fox poop can vary in color from dark brown to light tan. Foxes are omnivorous and like to eat small birds, rodents, berries and earthworms. Like many other animals, people can find undigested food particles in their feces.

• bobcat poop vs coyote poop

The best way to describe a coyote drop is "knotted and knotted rope". Like bobcat droppings, coyote droppings are tube-shaped and can be anywhere from 3 to 5 inches long. However, large male coyotes may poop up to 12 inches. Coyote droppings are long and curly, with a tapered end. It's not uncommon to find fruit residue in coyotes' poop.

• bobcat poo and bear poo

Bear poop is tube-shaped like bobcat poop, which bears some resemblance to human poop, except it's longer. Their poo is about 2 inches across and weighs over a pound. Note that bear poop can also be semi-liquid or watery, depending on what they eat.

As omnivores, bears prefer to eat meat and fruit depending on the weather, and you'll likely find traces of their diet in their droppings. Bear dung is less of a health hazard than bobcat poop.

• bobcat poop vs mountain lion poop

Cougar droppings are much larger than bobcat droppings, up to 5 inches in length and about 1 ¼ inches in diameter. However, like bobcats, their droppings may be segmented and have blunt ends. Cougars also like to cover their droppings with dirt or leaves, and people may find hair and bones in them.

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