The bobcat (Lynx Rufus Schreber, 1777) is a mesopredator distributed from southern Canada to southern Mexico. Its presence is an indicator of good ecosystem quality. Although it is considered the most abundant felid in Mexico, there are very few studies that evaluate its population dynamics in arid zones. Therefore, the objective was to determine the population density and occupancy probability of bobcats in fragments of Tamaulipan thornscrub. Population abundance and density were estimated using camera traps and the MARK-CAPTURE tool. The vegetation composition of landscape corridors was evaluated to estimate their relationship with the bobcat population. An occupancy model was elaborated to analyze the presence of the species in the area, using environmental and anthropogenic impact covariates. The average density resulted in 8 individuals 100 km(-2), derived from the identification of 23 bobcats and an effective sampling area of 140.31 km(2). Sites 17 and 18 had the highest vegetation cover and the highest number of records, as well as a female with cubs and with different prey. The occupancy probability was positively associated with areas of higher vegetation cover. It is concluded that the density values presented are associated with the fragmentation of the vegetation community, and that the variables with the greatest influence on the presence of bobcats are vegetation cover and diversity.