A Noteworthy Field Record for Wild Bobcat (Lynx rufus) Longevity in Texas

Seth F. Hawke^1,*, Warren C. Conway¹, Courtney L. Ramsey¹, and Haemish I.A.S. Melville^2,3

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402. ²Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystems Research Unit (ABEERU), Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida 1710, Gauteng, South Africa. ³School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia. *Corresponding author.

Southeastern Naturalist, Volume 25, Issue 3 (2026): N46–N51

First published early online: 12 August 2026

Abstract
Longevity data are important in the management of wildlife, and wild Lynx rufus (Bobcat) longevity has historically been difficult to accurately assess due to the elusive nature of the species. There is limited data for Texas, where Bobcat harvest is not restricted by bag limits or closed seasons. A female Bobcat that was collared as an adult in 2010 for a study in East Texas was harvested by a trapper in 2022, making her >13 years old at time of death. To our knowledge, this is the oldest recorded wild Bobcat in the state. We provide a list of notable Bobcat longevity records and recommend further research on Bobcat population age structure in Texas.

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