Massachusetts may be best known for its urban areas and historic sites, but locals and visitors with a passion for nature know there’s plenty of wilderness in Massachusetts, too. beautiful forests found throughout the state are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. if you’re a cat lover, you might head to western massachusetts in hopes of spotting a feral cat, too.
in the past, massachusetts was home to three species of native cats: the bobcat, the bobcat, and the mountain lion or cougar. Although you now have to go further afield to find cougars and bobcats, you can still find wild bobcats in Massachusetts, the state’s last wild cat.
the bobcat: massachusetts’ only wild species
Bobcats are small bobcats with reddish-brown fur and small black spots. they are usually two to three times the size of domestic cats, so it can be difficult to tell them apart from a distance. One of the most notable features of a bobcat is its short tail: it’s square and fluffy, and the “cropped” appearance is what gave this cat species its name. they also have tufts of hair on their ears. Although bobcats live primarily in rural, wild areas of western Massachusetts, they have been known to invade urban and suburban areas as well, especially during winters.
the lynx: from resident to neighbor
although the bobcat is the only known species in massachusetts today, less than a century ago, you could expect to see its rarer and smaller cousin, the bobcat. These cats are between a bobcat and a house cat in size and generally have a silvery, shaggy coat with darker spots or flecks, large fluffy paws, and tufted ears. in the summer, that shaggy coat is replaced by a short-haired, reddish-brown coat. like bobcats, they have tufted ears and short tails, though their tails are tipped with black.
however, bobcats are less adaptable than bobcats and the species is now considered extinct in massachusetts. although a lynx cannot be found here, it has not gone far; in fact, there are still small populations in new hampshire, vermont, and maine. despite this, their shy nature means that even seasoned campers can go their entire lives without seeing a lynx.
the puma: from terror to cryptid
A third species of cat, the puma, was once found in massachusetts, this one is much bigger and more dangerous. Today cougars are only found west of the Rocky Mountains except for a few isolated territories, but they once ranged from coast to coast, including Maine. these cats can reach three feet tall at shoulder height, stretch over six feet from nose to tail, and weigh up to 220 pounds.
However, pumas were often hunted out of concern about attacks on humans and livestock and because their skins and fur were valuable trophies. By 1900, cougars were rare in New England and most of the eastern United States. Despite this, there are persistent rumors of cougar sightings in Massachusetts and neighboring states. Whether these sightings are pure imagination, lone wanderers far from their home territory, or a lost population is up for debate.
last thoughts
The wilderness of Massachusetts is teeming with wildlife, but it takes a lot of luck to see a feral cat. Massachusetts bobcats are mostly nocturnal and solitary, but they are still there. They play a vital role in our native ecosystems, helping to keep Massachusetts’ wilderness a beautiful and thriving place to visit.
featured image credit: warren metcalf, shutterstock
