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What is the difference between bobcat and mountain lion? That’s the question that keeps popping up from time to time. There are some common characteristics and differences you should know about each animal.
Bobcats are not mountain lions. They are most closely related to gray foxes. Mountain lions are a subspecies of cat found throughout the United States and Canada. They often grow to be larger than bobcats, with larger teeth and claws, but they are not as large as cougars.
Mountain lions tend to be solitary creatures that eat mostly deer and smaller prey like rabbits, squirrels, and other small mammals. Bobcats are more likely to hunt in groups than mountain lions because they have smaller territories and can cover more ground on their own. Bobcats tend to live in forested areas while mountain lions live in open spaces or along rivers.
Size Difference
When asking about the difference between bobcat and mountain lion, people ask about their size. The bobcat measures about 4 feet tall at the shoulder and weighs anywhere from 35 to 55 pounds. The mountain lion is generally larger, standing between 6 and 8 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing around 200 pounds.
The Bobcat is often mistaken for a domestic cat, but it’s actually part of the Felidae family (which includes tigers, lions, cougars, leopards and jaguars). While domestic cats are striped (or tabbies), bobcats have distinctive black-and-white markings on their coats.
Unlike many other cats, bobcats are solitary hunters who live in forests and prairies, often near streams or rivers. They’ll use their long tails as a weapon against predators; a trait that has earned them the nickname kittens from farmers who have seen them fend off wolves with their tails!
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Bobcat is More Common
Apart from asking about the difference between bobcat and mountain lion, people also ask how rare these animals are. Bobcats and mountain lions are two of the most common big cats in North America; the truth is that they are not likely to encounter one another in their natural habitat. Mountain lions are much more widespread than bobcats and can be found in many different types of habitats. In fact, they often find themselves in areas where bobcats do not live.
Bobcats are only found in a small portion of the United States and Canada; although there have been some sightings further south during migration seasons. They prefer forests and wooded areas with high levels of cover and concealment like rivers and streams where they can hunt for fish. Their diet consists mainly of small mammals such as rabbits, squirrels, mice, rats and voles. They also eat large birds like grouse or quail when they can find them at higher elevations where there are few trees.
Mountain lions are most commonly found near large bodies of water such as rivers and lakes where prey is abundant throughout the year; however they will also hunt from higher elevations if food sources become scarce during winter months when snow covers ground vegetation.
Characteristics Difference
People are usually interested in the facial characteristics difference between bobcat and mountain lion. The Mountain Lion is not just a pretty face. It’s a carnivore with a very interesting biology that makes it stand out from other cats.
The Mountain Lion has a long tail, large ears and whisker pads that help the cat to detect predators in the wild. The long whiskers also help the cat to hunt on the ground or in trees.
The Mountain Lion can be identified by its prominent mane around its head and neck, as well as its large ears that stand erect when alert. The coloration of this cat is also distinctive; it ranges from dark brown to reddish-brown in color with white spots on its body and tail tip.
Color Difference
The mountain lion’s fur color is pale yellow or gray with black spots in its mane and tail. The male mountain lion has a blue-black mane while females have a red-brown mane. The male’s face is adorned by jagged lines of black fur that extend from its eyes down its cheeks and neck like a mask, called whiskers.
The Bobcat’s coat is grayish-brown with black streaks on the back, sides, and legs. It also has black tufts on its pointed ears, short black bars on its forelegs and a short black-tipped tail. The Bobcat’s coat can vary from orange to dark brown to nearly white in coloration depending upon the season and location of where it lives.
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Both Are Carnivorous
Bobcat and mountain lion are both carnivorous animals. They are both capable of killing prey larger than themselves, such as deer or raccoons. However, they differ in the method they use to kill their prey.
Bobcats primarily use their claws to capture their prey. They also employ a strategy known as stalking where they position themselves behind their prey and wait for it to come close enough before making the kill.
Mountain lions use their claws and teeth to attack their prey but also have claws on their paws which they use to cut through flesh and bone. If a mountain lion catches its prey in the woods, it will bite off the head of its prey and then drag it back into the woods with its body still attached.
Conclusion
The bobcat is a small cat that can be found in the wild. It has a short tail, large ears, small eyes and paws, and large feet. The mountain lion is larger than the bobcat, with a long tail, large ears and eyes, and larger paws. A bobcat’s fur is usually brown or gray with black stripes on its back and sides. A mountain lion’s fur is also brown or gray but it also has white patches on its belly and chest.
Take a hard look at each one and compare the areas of similarity. Both animals are cats, both have four legs, a head, a tail and fur. However, when you look at the entire animal you will notice that there are some significant differences in appearance.
