GRAFTON — A bobcat weighing approximately 25 pounds was recently spotted near the Tara Point Inn in Grafton. The sighting, captured by Rachel Peters, was shared on the Riverbender.com Facebook page on Nov. 18, 2025, as a Photo Of The Day.
The medium-sized bobcat in Peters’ photo was confirmed by park ranger Scott Isringhausen. He said bobcats have a short bobbed tail with a white tip, ears that stand straight up, and a spotted coat with varying patterns. He said bobcats are known for their elusive nature and are primarily active at night, making sightings uncommon.
“They are going to run away and not attack you,” Isringhausen said, distinguishing bobcats from larger predators such as mountain lions. He explained that bobcats rely on camouflage and typically hunt small prey, including rats, mice, rabbits, and squirrels.
Nocturnal animals are creatures that are active during the night and rest during the day. Bobcats are considered nocturnal animals.
Adult bobcats generally measure 25 to 35 inches in head-body length with tails about five inches long. Their weight ranges from 15 to 30 pounds. Their fur features a mix of gray, brown, and tan with dark streaks and spots, while the belly is white or tan with black spots. Their short, pointed ears often have tufts of black hair at the tips.
Bobcats inhabit various environments across Illinois, including wooded bluffs, rolling hills with open fields, brushy ravines, and bottomland forests. They are solitary and mostly nocturnal, equipped with acute eyesight and hearing, Isringhausen said. Their diet mainly consists of cottontails, squirrels, mice, and birds, though they may eat carrion when other food sources are scarce.
Mating season for bobcats occurs from February through April, with a gestation period of about two months. Litters typically include one or two kittens, which become independent at around two months old.
Isringhausen noted that while bobcats have been observed in the Grafton area and near Pere Marquette State Park, including on private farmland, encounters remain relatively rare due to their nocturnal habits and cautious behavior. He added that some residents might worry about threats to chickens if they have them outside in farm country.
