Research overview: bobcat northward range expansion under milder winters

Bobcats are a generalist felid whose northern range limit appears constrained by deep snow and severe winters, conditions that warming is relaxing. This overview surveys evidence and projections for bobcat expansion into higher latitudes and elevations, the mechanisms thought to drive it (reduced snow depth, milder winters, and prey availability), and the implications for competitive displacement of Canada lynx. It reviews how harvest records, occurrence data, and distribution models are used to detect and forecast these shifts. The synthesis situates the bobcat as a climate winner among felids in parts of its range, illustrating how warming can expand habitat for adaptable generalists while contracting it for specialists.