Maine is home to two large wild cats- the bobcat and the lynx. While similar in size and appearance, these medium-sized mammals have a few key distinctions to tell them apart.
Bobcats are found throughout southern, central, and eastern Maine and occupy diverse habitats from agricultural fields to dense forests. They are opportunistic hunters and will prey on a variety of small mammals, birds, reptiles, and carrion. While widely varied in habitat and food, they are reclusive and tend to stay away from large amounts of human activity.
Though Maine is home to the largest population of Canada Lynx in the lower 48, it is unlikely that they are found in southern and central parts of the state. They prefer boreal forests and specialize in preying on snowshoe hare, which make up approximately 75% of their diet. Key characteristics of the Canada Lynx are their long (>1″) ear tufts, black-tipped tail, and large paws.
Check out this comparison by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife!
