THE BAY LYNX, OR WILD CAT.
The Bay Lynx replaces the Canada Lynx throughout the greater part of
the United States. This animal is known to the fur trade as the wild
cat and is also known in some localities as the Catamount and the
bobcat.
The true wild cat is not found in America, being a native of Europe
and Northern Asia, and resembling the domestic cat, somewhat, in
appearance. Such cats are also found in certain parts of the United
States but they are only the descendants of domestic cats which have
strayed into the woods and become wild, and are not the wild cat of
Europe.
The Bay Lynx is found throughout the rough timbered portions of the
eastern, northern and western States, also in the swamps and cane
brakes of the south. The International Boundary is about the northern
limit of its range. They are quite plentiful in parts of the south,
also in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where they have become
so destructive to sheep that the stockmen pay bounty on those that
are killed.
The animal is somewhat smaller than the Canada Lynx, but resembles
that animal in general appearance. It is about thirty inches in
length, with a tail of five or six inches, and weighs from eighteen
to twenty-five pounds, in some instances exceeding these figures. Its
color on the back and sides is of a pale reddish brown, overlaid with
grayish, the latter color being most prevalent in fall and winter.
The throat is surrounded with a collar of long hair. The under parts
are light colored and spotted and a few dark spots are also found on
the sides. The tail is tipped with black and has half rings on its
upper surface. The ears are also tipped with black hairs, but this
tip is not so conspicuous as in the case of the Canadian Lynx. The
hair is also shorter and coarser, and the feet smaller and less
heavily furred.
The food of this animal consists of rabbits, partridges, sage hens,
and any other small animals and birds which they can capture. They
are fond of poultry and have been known to kill and devour the
raccoon. As before mentioned, they are partial to mutton. In all
probability they capture large numbers of mice, moles, prairie dogs,
etc.
In the West, as in parts of the East the wild cat dens in natural
holes in the rocks. In the swamps of the South they no doubt, nest in
hollow trees.
They are, as a rule, shy and retiring animals, but when brought to
bay show considerable courage and fight desperately. The fur of the
Bay Lynx is not as valuable as that of the northern lynx. It becomes
prime in the north about the first of November; in the south three or
four weeks later.
The wild cat resembles the Canada Lynx so closely in habits, etc.,
that I do not consider it necessary to give any special methods for
capturing it. The bait methods recommended for the lynx will also do
very well for the wild cat, and the same bait may be used. In the
south it would probably be better to set in natural enclosures
whenever possible. In the foothills of the Rockies the Bay Lynx is
frequently caught in traps set for coyotes, although they may be
captured as easily there as in any other section, and if the trapper
wishes, he can set his traps in hollows in the rocks, or in
enclosures of brush, cactus, etc.
Some trappers prefer to hang the bait above the trap, and it is a
good way, but I think that the enclosure is more certain.
I would recommend the Nos. 2 and 3 traps for these animals. Although
they may be held at times in smaller traps, any trap having less
strength than the No. 2 should not be depended on.
The track of the wild cat resembles that of the lynx, but is much
smaller. The footprints will seldom measure more than one and a half
inches in diameter, and the step is a trifle shorter than that of the
Canadian Lynx.
[Illustration: The Cougar.]