BobCats

B&B Kennels · Post by **B&B Kennels** » Tue May 08, 2007 1:27 pm

Biologists

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS VERIFY 37 BOBCAT SIGHTINGS
IN OHIO DURING 2006

ATHENS , OH – Increased evidence of bobcats living in Ohio ’s eastern and southeastern counties continues with the confirmation of 37 sightings by state wildlife officials during 2006, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. This represents a marked increase from the 20 verified sightings in 2005.

The bobcat was found throughout Ohio during early settlement, but as land was converted for crops and communities the bobcat’s population declined. By 1850, the animal could no longer be found living in the state. A handful of unverified sightings in the 1960s marked the bobcat’s unofficial return to Ohio . Since 1970, state wildlife biologists have verified 122 bobcat sightings in 33 counties.

Verification of the elusive bobcat includes photographs of the animal and its tracks; encounters through incidental trapping, from which animals are later released; recovery of road kill and sightings by Division of Wildlife personnel. All of the 2006 reports occurred in the following counties: Jefferson, Coshocton, Muskingum, Guernsey, Monroe, Noble, Morgan, Washington, Athens, Vinton, Jackson, Meigs, Gallia, and Adams. The Division of Wildlife also received 134 unverified bobcat reports last year.

In 1997, the Division of Wildlife began monitoring bobcats in Ohio using a combination of field surveys and follow-up investigations of sightings. These efforts have been supported by the Wildlife Diversity and Endangered Species fund, which receives donations from Ohioans through the state income tax check-off program and by the purchase of cardinal license plates.

The bobcat is an endangered species and protected by state law. For more about Ohio’s wildlife diversity, visit the Division of Wildlife website.

mo. beagler · Post by **mo. beagler** » Tue May 08, 2007 2:14 pm

I think you guy in oh. need to keeps those cats safe........

Right on the mantle over the fire place

CHRIS WHITT · Post by **CHRIS WHITT** » Tue May 08, 2007 9:45 pm

AMEN!!!!!!! I will send a few that way as soon as our season re opens.I have several that live behind my house and have supplied several for safe keeping above the fireplace.

cris axtell/coal hill ken · Sat May 12, 2007 9:35 am

we had one cross the road in front of us at the ohio st hunt in se ohio last year.

Cannonball08 · Post by **Cannonball08** » Sun May 13, 2007 8:53 am

I think you guys will start seeing more and more cats in Ohio. I live in WV and they are pretty abundant here. I have some friends that trap in PA and they have been having great success on cats. A few years ago they said there were hardly any. They are a neat animal and will kill a few of your bunnies.