Citizen‐Science Camera Trap Data Reveal Large‐Scale Activity Patterns of the Bobcat ( Lynx rufus ) Across Mexican Ecosystems

ABSTRACT

Daily activity patterns represent a key behavioral component of carnivores, shaped by resource availability, environmental conditions, intra‐ and interspecific interactions, and human disturbance. The bobcat ( Lynx rufus ) is a widely distributed mesocarnivore across North America; however, its activity patterns in Mexico have been scarcely evaluated at broad spatial scales. In this study, we analyzed the potential of citizen science records to characterize bobcat activity patterns at a national scale in Mexico. We analyzed 821 independent photographic records collected between 2005 and 2025 from the iNaturalist platform, distributed across 25 states and encompassing both relatively conserved environments and human‐modified landscapes. Recorded were classified into six main vegetation types: Temperate forests, Grasslands, Shrublands, Tropical forests, Riparian vegetation, and Agricultural‐modified areas. We evaluated activity patterns using kernel density functions, overlap coefficients, and circular statistics. At the national scale, the bobcat exhibited a general cathemeral activity pattern, with records distributed throughout the 24‐h cycle but concentrated during crepuscular and nocturnal periods. This pattern remained broadly consistent across vegetation types, although the position and intensity of activity peaks varied among habitats. In particular, Temperate forests showed a higher proportion of diurnal records, suggesting a more even distribution of activity throughout the day compared with other habitats. Overall, these results highlight the temporal plasticity of the bobcat across heterogeneous environments and demonstrate the potential of citizen science datasets for investigating large‐scale behavioral patterns in widely distributed carnivores.