They drift through the swamps in the middle of the night like ghosts in a foggy dream. Fierce predators that can take down prey much larger than themselves, bobcats are near the top of the food chain in a state that's known for large, deadly critters. Smaller in stature that the state animal — the Florida panther — bobcats are found throughout the Sunshine State and fill an important ecological role by keeping small mammal numbers at a healthy level. "Bobcats prey primarily on rodents, rabbits and birds and these prey items are often found in suburban and urban environments," said Michelle Kerr, with the Florida Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg. "As long as there is adequate cover available, bobcats can live among people."