A Comparison of Bobcat and Coyote Predation on Lambs in North-Coastal California

Abstract

je in\.estigated predation on lambs by bobcats (Lynr mfusi relative to coyotes car ti.^ lntrcit~s) horn J~ine 1994 through November 1995 at Hopland Kesearcli and Extension Center (HREC) in north-coastal C;alifornia, where both predators occur at equally high densities. Larnh losses during this study were t)pical for HKEC and surrounding ranches and inciuded 64 (5.3% of lambs pastured) confirmed predator kills and 134 (11.18)missing individuals. Fift>-seven of the preciator-killed lambs were attribi~ted to coyotes, whereas none were assigned to bobcats. The proportion of bobcat scats containing sheep remains was small i4.2%), and occurrence did not peak in the lambing season, suggesting that sheep consumed by bobcats were scav- enged Sheep were co~nrnon in colote scats (21.4%) and occnrred most freqr~entlv in scats from the ulnter- - . sphng lambkg season. Coyotes were responsible for all lamb kills in intensi~rely monitored pastures for which predator species could be identified. Use of space by radiocollared bobcats was not noticeably influenced by the presence of lambs. \Ve concluded that bobcats were not important predators of lambs at HKEC and not the cause for the relatively large nuirlbers of lambs missing and unaccounted for each year.