BOBCAT

The bobcat is extremely hard to detect in its enviornment. It has developed coloring that is very well matched to his surroundings. Because the bobcat often hides in vegeation, he is forced to depend on his acute sense of hearing before attacking prey. The animal pictured here is a northern type that has a life span of 12 years. Smaller tame cats are cousins to the wildcats and were first domesticated by the Egyptians 2000 years ago. The biggest problem facing these cats in the 20th century are pells hunters. As long as westerners keep a demand for hundreds of thousands of pells every year, the survival of these creatures be in question.