Color ranges from gray-brown to reddish. Ear tufts are used like antennae to aid hearing. The Bobcat gets its name from its "bobbed" tail, and it is a solitary animal, mostly nocturnal.  An excellent climber, they often rest on branches or atop large rocks to watch for passing prey. They eat smaller mammals like rabbits, mice and squirrels. Litters consist of one to seven kits born between April and May in a den of dry leaves in hollow logs, or the shelter of rock ledges and fallen trees. Their lifespan is 25 years, and the bobcat is often killed by poison bait intended for coyotes.