Best Time to See Bobcats in the US
January, December and February is the best time to see bobcats in the United States. This is a national picture built from 44,246 verified iNaturalist observations across 47 states, showing when and where bobcats are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
44,246 verified observations of bobcats in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bobcats are recorded in the US
Peak month
January
4,906 records (11.1% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Januarypeak | 4,906 | 11.1% |
| Februarypeak | 4,149 | 9.4% |
| March | 4,064 | 9.2% |
| April | 3,901 | 8.8% |
| May | 3,765 | 8.5% |
| June | 2,949 | 6.7% |
| July | 2,556 | 5.8% |
| August | 2,855 | 6.5% |
| September | 3,270 | 7.4% |
| October | 3,580 | 8.1% |
| November | 3,894 | 8.8% |
| Decemberpeak | 4,357 | 9.8% |
Bobcats you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Bobcat | 44,246 |
Across the country, bobcats sightings peak in January, when 4,906 of the 44,246 annual observations are logged, about 11.1% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through January, December and February.
The best states to see bobcats by recorded sightings are California (17,900), Texas (6,492), Arizona (2,814), Florida (2,082) and Connecticut (1,767). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The bobcats you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Bobcat, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see bobcats
- bobcats in California17,900 sightings, peak January
- bobcats in Texas6,492 sightings, peak January
- bobcats in Arizona2,814 sightings, peak January
- bobcats in Florida2,082 sightings, peak January
- bobcats in Connecticut1,767 sightings, peak August
- bobcats in Oregon1,198 sightings, peak April
- bobcats in Vermont962 sightings, peak February
- bobcats in Colorado908 sightings, peak December
- bobcats in Nebraska752 sightings, peak February
- bobcats in Massachusetts744 sightings, peak January
- bobcats in New York663 sightings, peak May
- bobcats in Washington637 sightings, peak March
- bobcats in New Hampshire626 sightings, peak January
- bobcats in New Mexico548 sightings, peak November
- bobcats in North Carolina535 sightings, peak March
Most-recorded bobcats species nationwide
- Bobcat44,246 records
Plan your bobcat trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bobcat viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best bobcat viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a bobcat tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see bobcats in the US?+
January is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through January, December and February, based on 44,246 verified observations across 47 states.
Which states are best for seeing bobcats?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Texas and Arizona. California leads with 17,900 verified observations.
How many bobcats sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 44,246 verified bobcats observations are logged on iNaturalist across 47 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of bobcats live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Bobcat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.