Bobcat Predation on Northern Bobwhites

By Krista Ruppert, Texas A&M WFSC ‘16

                When managing for northern bobwhite, predator control and management is often one of the major considerations attractive to land managers trying to bolster quail populations. Predators such as raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, and others are sometimes vilified to the point where all are presumed to have an equal and exclusively negative impact on quail. But is this truly the case? Bobcats in particular are sometimes considered to be a huge detriment to quail survival, but the situation is much less straightforward than the idea that “cats eat birds, so removing cats helps birds.” The impact of bobcat presence on bobwhite does include the direct predation of quail, but also the potential for predation of and territory defense from other animals in a way that could have a neutral, or even positive, effect on bobwhite populations.

A bobcat caught on a game camera. Photo courtesy of Sylvia Ware.

                To gain understanding of bobcat predation on northern bobwhite, it is important to determine the usual composition of the bobcat’s diet. A study by Beasom and Moore (1977) found that bobcats primarily preyed upon cotton rats and cottontail rabbits, with bobwhite only occurring in about 5% of bobcat stomachs. Godbois et al. (2003) studied bobcat scat on an area managed for northern bobwhite, and found quail remains in only 1.4% of scats, indicating that bobcats rarely prey on quail. Rader et al. (2006) studied bobwhite nest predation, finding that only 3% of all depredated nests were caused by bobcats. Finally, Tewes et al. (2002) surveyed 54 scientific articles about bobcat food habits, finding quail to be present in only 9 studies and typically at levels of less than 3% of the total bobcat diet. 

Though bobcats may sometimes prey upon quail, they prefer rodents and are not typically a significant threat to bobwhite populations.

Photo from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

Based on these data, it appears that bobcats are largely uninterested in consuming quail; they do not seem to actively search out quail nests, particularly when a more desirable food source (in this case, rodents) is available. Even when land is managed specifically for northern bobwhite, these cats do not predate quail more than they would on properties managed for other purposes. Additionally, supplemental feeding of bobwhite often causes an increase in rodent populations, which bobcats are more likely to consume, thus reducing the pressure on quail. Exceptions are undoubtedly possible; if other predator control methods are not working and game cameras reveal a recurring bobcat depredating quail and nests, actions may need to be taken reduce bobcats.

                If bobcats are not major predators of quail, what is? While the answer may vary somewhat regionally, mammals are more likely predators in the summer during nesting season, while avian predation is more likely in the winter. Remember that avian predators are protected by law. Of summer mammalian nest predation, coyotes and male raccoons are the most likely culprits, as described by Cooper et al. (2015). According to Hernandez et al. (1997) 91% of simulated (“dummy”) nests depredated in the Edwards Plateau was done by raccoons. Other predators may include snakes, armadillos, foxes, skunks, feral cats, domestic dogs, and red imported fire ants. Primarily preying on wintering quail, avian predators include harriers, accipiters, buteos, and owls, among other raptors and hawks. Consider using game cameras to determine common regional and local mammalian predators of quail in order to create a management strategy tailored to individual needs.

The most common nest predators of quail vary regionally, but raccoons have been identified as major predators of bobwhite nests. Females and young are much less likely to depredate nests than adult males.

Photo from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

                Considering the potential positive and negative impacts of certain predators is essential to bobwhite success. It is important to consider all aspects of the ecosystem when creating a management plan for bobwhite, and including predators. It is unlikely that bobcats are a major direct threat to quail survival at the population level; consequently, energy placed in habitat management makes for sense for quail to have proper cover and thus an advantage over predators. To learn more about managing predators, see the AgriLife Extension publication, Predator Control as a Tool in Wildlife Management.

Literature Cited

Beasom, S. L. and R. A. Moore. 1977. Bobcat food habit response to a change in prey abundance. The Southwestern Naturalist 21(4):451-457.

Cooper, S. M., S. Jhala, D. Rollins, and R. A. Feagin. 2015. Nocturnal movements and habitat selection of mesopredators encountering bobwhite nests. Wildlife Society Bulletin 39(1):138-146.

Godbois, I.A., L. M. Conner, and R. J. Warren. 2003. Bobcat diet on an area managed for Northern Bobwhite. Proceeding of the Annual Conference of Southeastern Associations of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 57:222–227.

Godbois, I. A., L. M. Conner, and R. J. Warren. 2004. Space-use patterns of bobcats relative to supplemental feeding of northern bobwhites. Journal of Wildlife Management 68(3):514-518.

Hernandez, F., D. Rollins, and R. Cantu. 1997. Evaluating evidence to identify ground-nest predators in West Texas. Wildlife Society Bulletin 25(4):826-831.

Rader, M. J., T. W. Teinert, L. A. Brennan, F. Hernandez, N. J. Silvy, and X. B. Wu. 2006. Identifying predators and nest fates of bobwhites in southern Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(5):1626-1630.

Staller, E. L., W. E. Palmer, J. P. Carroll, R. P. Thornton, and D. C. Sisson. 2005. Identifying predators at northern bobwhite nests. Journal of Wildlife Management 69(1):124-132.

Tewes, M. E., J. M. Mock, and J. H. Young. 2002. Bobcat predation on quail, birds, and mesomammals. Proceedings of the Fifth National Quail Symposium 5:65-70.