Bobcats in Wyoming: identification guide and where to start looking
Yes, bobcats are found throughout Wyoming, but they're elusive. Start your search in the breaks and canyons of the eastern foothills or the rocky outcrops of the Red Desert. Look for tracks or scat near brushy edges to confirm their presence.
Yes, bobcats are found throughout Wyoming, but they're elusive. Start your search in the breaks and canyons of the eastern foothills or the rocky outcrops of the Red Desert. Look for tracks or scat near brushy edges to confirm their presence.
1. What are the key identification marks for bobcats in Wyoming?
Bobcats are medium-sized wildcats with a short "bobbed" tail, tufted ears, and a spotted coat. Adults weigh 15-35 pounds. The tail is 4-7 inches long with a black tip on top only. Their face has prominent ruffs on the cheeks. Footprints are about 2 inches wide, with no claw marks because claws are retractable. For more on bobcat identification, visit ourbobcat species page.
In Wyoming, bobcats sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to the most useful ID markers and likely lookalikes. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto narrow your first area, then check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat changes fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.
2. How do you tell a bobcat apart from a Canada lynx or a feral cat?
Lynx are larger, with longer ear tufts, huge snowshoe-like paws, and a completely black-tipped tail. Bobcats have smaller paws and a tail that is black-tipped only on the top. Feral cats are much smaller, with no ear tufts or cheek ruffs. Bobcat tracks are rounder than dog tracks but lack claws. In Wyoming, lynx are mostly restricted to high-elevation boreal forests, while bobcats use lower country.
Most misses happen when people arrive at the wrong hour or expect nonstop activity. Build around where in the state people usually notice them first, keep one backup area in mind, and use theanimal facts pageplustour planning ideasto compare what a realistic outing looks like in Wyoming. If movement slows, stay longer at one promising spot, listen for calls or watch for edge movement, and reset around weather, light, water, or feeding changes instead of jumping to a totally new area too early.
3. Where in Wyoming do bobcats show up most often?
I have had the best luck in the eastern plains along the Platte River drainage, and in the badlands near Kaycee. The Bighorn Basin and the foothills of the Absarokas also hold good numbers. They favor rocky ledges, dense brush, and canyon rims. For a full list of Wyoming wildlife hotspots, see theWyoming wildlife page.
See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
4. What time of year and day gives you the best chance to see a bobcat?
Dawn and dusk are prime. Winter is actually better because snow reveals tracks and they hunt more during daylight when prey is scarce. I have seen more bobcats in January and February than any other months. Focus on mornings after fresh snow for tracking.
5. What habitats do Wyoming bobcats prefer?
They are habitat generalists but avoid deep snow. They use mixed woodlands, sagebrush steppe with rocky cover, and rimrock country. In the west, they stick to lower elevations in winter. Look for them near cottonwood draws and juniper slopes. Interspersed areas with both cover and open hunting ground are ideal.
6. What do bobcats eat and how do they behave?
Their diet is mostly rabbits and hares, but also voles, birds, and sometimes deer fawns. They are solitary and territorial. Bobcats are ambush predators; they stalk then pounce. You might find cached kills under brush or in rock crevices. They are most active around dawn and dusk.
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FAQs about bobcats in Wyoming
- **Are bobcats dangerous to humans?** Bobcats rarely attack people. They are shy and avoid humans. Keep your distance if you see one.
- **Can I hunt bobcats in Wyoming?** Yes, with a valid license during the regulated season. Check Wyoming Game and Fish for current rules.
- **What should I do if I find a bobcat den?** Leave it alone. Do not approach or disturb. Report to local authorities if it is in a risky area.
See ourtour planning ideasfor the next step.