photo by: Courtesy of Prairie Park Nature Center

A young bobcat is a new animal ambassador at Prairie Park Nature Center.

A young bobcat has taken up permanent residence at Prairie Park Nature Center as an “ambassador animal.”

The approximately 12-week-old bobcat comes from a United States Department of Agriculture facility that breeds bobcats for educational purposes, according to a release from the center. As an ambassador, the as-yet unnamed bobcat will help connect the community with Kansas wildlife and teach visitors about carnivores in the state.

Bobcats, scientifically known as Lynx rufus, are members of the cat family, Felidae, and belong to the small-cat subfamily, Felinae. Unlike the big cats, which can roar but cannot purr, small cats can purr but cannot roar, the center said. Bobcats get their scientific name from their reddish coloring, with Lynx meaning “light” and rufus meaning “red.”

Bobcats are highly adaptable animals and can be found from southern Mexico to the forests of Canada. They have also adapted well to living near people and are relatively common in urban areas — even if we rarely see them, the center said. Their primary prey includes rabbits and rodents, although they may also hunt birds and fish.

The community is invited to meet the bobcat from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 18 at Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper St.

The event will begin with a presentation about cats of the Americas, followed by an opportunity for guests to vote on the bobcat’s name. A survey for voting will also be made available on Sept. 18. After the naming, visitors will have the opportunity to purchase a photo with the new ambassador for $10.