Bobcats in California in February

Yes, February is one of the best months to see bobcats in California. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 1,684 of the 17,900 sightings logged across the year (9.4%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Bobcat photographed in CaliforniaBobcat photographed in CaliforniaWestern Bobcat photographed in California
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for bobcats in California

9.4%

of yearly sightings

1,684

records in February

#3

busiest month of 12

17,900

verified records a year

January 11.2%, February 9.4%, March 9%. Busiest month is January at 11.2%.

Best months: January, December, February

17,900 verified observations of bobcats in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bobcats are recorded in California

Peak month

January

2,010 records (11.2% of the year)

Quietest month

July

993 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak2,01011.2%
Februarypeak1,6849.4%
March1,6129%
April1,5938.9%
May1,4017.8%
June1,1296.3%
July9935.5%
August1,1796.6%
September1,3717.7%
October1,4858.3%
November1,6659.3%
Decemberpeak1,7789.9%

Bobcats you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Bobcat17,900

In California, February carries 9.4% of the year's bobcats sightings, about 1.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from January (11.2%) into February, and it heads toward March (9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so February is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The bobcats most often recorded in California are Bobcat. Those counts are annual totals rather than a February split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in February itself.

Which bobcats you are most likely to see

  • Bobcat17,900 records
Plan your tripAlcatraz Island

Plan your bobcat trip in California

Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bobcats in California in February?+

Yes. February accounts for 1,684 of the 17,900 verified bobcats sightings logged in California across the year, which is 9.4% of the annual total.

Is February a good time to see bobcats in California?+

February is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of January, December and February.

What month is best for bobcats in California?+

January is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through January, December and February, based on 17,900 verified observations.

Which bobcats are you most likely to see in California?+

The most-recorded species in California are Bobcat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.