Rabbits, hares (e.g., Knick et al. 1984; Maehr and Brady 1986; Fedriani et al. 2000; Thornton et al. 2004; Hass 2009; Harrison 2010; Rose and Prange 2015; Witczuk et al. 2015)
Very common prey, especially cottontail and snowshoe hare
Bobcats shift to other prey, where rabbits are scarce (Litvaitis et al. 2006)
Small rodents (rats, mice, voles, chipmunks, squirrels) (e.g., Rollings 1945; Knick et al. 1984; Maehr and Brady 1986; Fedriani et al. 2000; Thornton et al. 2004; Hass 2009; Rose and Prange 2015; Witczuk et al. 2015)
Deer (e.g., Matson 1948; Knick et al. 1984; Hass 2009; Rose and Prange 2015; Witczuk et al. 2015)
Particularly fawns and juveniles
Various other medium-sized mammals
Examples
Mountain beaver, Aplodontia rufa (e.g., Knick et al. 1984; Witczuk et al. 2015)
Porcupine (Rollings 1945)
Marmot (Witczuk et al. 2015)
Opossum (Jackson 1961; Rose and Prange 2015)
Uncommon diet items
Birds (Maehr and Brady 1986; Rose and Prange 2015; Witczuk et al. 2015; Young, Golla, Broman, et al. 2019; RP Carroll, in prep)
Bats (Wroe and Wroe 1982)
Grass or vegetation (Hall 1981; Anderson 1987)
Aids digestion
Feeding
Finding and capturing prey
Opportunistic hunter (Anderson 1987)
May also scavenge (Rollings 1945; Koehler and Hornocker 1991)
Usually hunt on the ground (Rollings 1945)
Rarely, climb trees to hunt
Hunt solitarily (Marston 1942)
Exception: mother and young hunt together
Search areas thoroughly for prey (Rollings 1945; Hall 1981, except as noted)
Check hiding places
Often develop and use well-established hunting routes (Rory Carroll, personal communication, 2020)
Follow trails (e.g., of rabbits)
Look around from vantage points
Use eyesight and hearing to locate prey (Anderson 1987)
Stalk prey from behind cover or crouch motionless from vantage point (Marston 1942; Rollings 1945; Matson 1948, and as noted)
Patiently wait, then pursue with a burst of speed
Can sustain short chases only
May attack while prey rest or sleep (McCord 1974a)
Sometimes cache/cover prey with snow or leaves (Anderson 1987)
