Bobcats are not established in Hawaii and are not considered part of the islands’ wildlife. Hawaii’s uniquely isolated ecosystem evolved without terrestrial mammalian predators like the bobcat (Lynx rufus). Because of this biological vulnerability, the state enforces some of the world’s strictest biosecurity and animal quarantine laws. The absence of this wild cat is a direct result of these long-standing protections for the islands’ distinctive flora and fauna.
The Official Status of Bobcats in the Islands
The importation and possession of bobcats are illegal in Hawaii, as they are designated a prohibited species. The state’s biosecurity efforts, overseen by the Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity, regulate the entry of all non-domestic animals to prevent the introduction of invasive predators. Any wild cat that enters the state is considered an immediate environmental threat and is subject to removal.
While bobcats do not exist in the wild, occasional reports of “large cats” emerge, but these sightings are consistently unconfirmed. Officials from the Department of Land and Natural Resources investigate these reports across the islands. Investigations typically conclude without finding concrete evidence, such as tracks, scat, or clear photographs, to verify a wild feline’s presence.
What Residents and Visitors Are Actually Seeing
Rumors of bobcats often stem from the misidentification of animals common in the islands. The most frequent source of confusion is the large feral cat (Felis catus), which varies significantly in size and appearance. If a robust feral cat has a naturally or accidentally bobbed tail, its profile can easily be mistaken for a bobcat.
The small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) is another invasive animal that contributes to the confusion, especially in low-light conditions. The mongoose has an elongated body, short legs, and a pointed snout, and its quick movements across roads can lead observers to misidentify it. Unlike the bobcat, which can weigh up to 30 pounds, the mongoose is a small, weasel-like creature weighing only about two pounds.
The Ecological Risk to Hawaiian Wildlife
The introduction of a generalist predator like the bobcat would be catastrophic for Hawaii’s unique biodiversity. Native birds, insects, and mammals evolved in an environment free of terrestrial mammalian predators. Consequently, they lack the instinctive fear and protective behaviors necessary to survive a bobcat.
A bobcat’s predatory nature would rapidly decimate fragile, endemic populations, including ground-nesting birds like the Hawaiian petrel and the Hawaiian goose, or Nēnē. Beyond direct predation, the presence of any wild cat increases the risk of disease transmission. The Toxoplasma gondii parasite, for which cats are the definitive host, is already a serious threat to native species, such as the endangered Hawaiian monk seal.