Kleptoparasitism of a River Otter, Lutra canadensis , 
by a Bobcat, Felis rufus, in South Carolina 
(Mammalia: Carnivora) 
James F. Bergan 1 
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory 
Drawer E, Aiken, South Carolina 29801 
ABSTRACT . — In January 1985, a bobcat, Felis rufus, was observed 
robbing a river otter, Lutra canadensis, of an American coot, Fulica 
americana. Observations of interactions between these two carnivores 
are practically nonexistent. This observation indicates that bobcats can 
assume an aggressive kleptoparasitic mode of behavior toward river 
otters. 
Bobcats, Felis rufus, are opportunistic in prey selection, usually 
choosing abundant and easily captured prey (Pollack 1951, Beasom and 
Moore 1977, King et al. 1983). Carrion is also consumed (McCord 
1974). In spite of this general foraging strategy, there are no published 
reports describing interspecific prey-stealing behavior (i.e. kleptoparasit- 
ism) by the bobcat. I observed a case of kleptoparasitism involving a 
bobcat and a river otter, Lutra canadensis. The incident occurred on 
Par Pond, a 1,120-ha cooling reservoir located at the Savannah River 
Plant, Barnwell Co., S.C. 
At 1645 hours on 21 January 1985, while observing waterfowl with 
a spotting scope from the reservoir dam, I observed a river otter 
swimming. The otter climbed onto a 1-m ice shelf along the shoreline. 
Approximately 50 American coots {Fulica americana ), 15 pied-billed 
grebes {Podilymbus podiceps), 5 buffleheads {Bucephala albeola), and 
10 lesser scaup {Ay thy a affinis) were feeding in the vicinity of the otter. 
The otter remained on the shore approximately 1 minute, returned to 
the water, and swam toward the feeding aggregation of waterfowl about 
45 m away. After approaching within 10 m of several coots, the otter 
submerged; it resurfaced in 35 seconds and began swimming to shore 
with a coot in its mouth. The coot’s wing was flapping as the otter 
climbed onto the ice shelf. The otter then plucked the breast feathers 
and fed upon the breast. Feeding continued as the abdominal cavity was 
opened and a portion of the viscera consumed. At this point, the otter 
appeared startled, quickly looked about, and jumped into the water. A 
bobcat came into view and appeared to emit a snarl as the otter swam 
'Present address: Department of Range and Wildlife Management, Texas Tech University, 
Lubbock, TX 79409. 
Brimleyana 16:63-65, July 1990 
63 
