Bobcat population edges up in southeast Iowa, DNR says
MUSCATINE, Iowa — The bobcat population in southeastern Iowa is growing slightly every year, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, or DNR.
Ron Andrews, a furbearer research biologist with the DNR, said bobcats have maintained a notable increase in population across the southern portion of the state since 1977, when they were listed as an endangered species.
But by 2001, the trend was reversing and the Natural Resource Commission downlisted the bobcat from endangered to threatened.
By 2003, DNR staff tallied sightings, road kills and incidental captures of bobcats statewide, finding the animals to be common in southern Iowa.
Legal seasons have been established for harvesting bobcats in Iowa's two southernmost tiers of counties. There is no bobcat trapping season in Muscatine County.
Poaching a bobcat is a simple misdemeanor, said Tom Campbell, a conservation officer for the Iowa DNR in Muscatine County. He has never charged — or heard of — someone with poaching bobcats in the county.
According to bowhunter surveys taken over the past four years, Andrews said, no bobcats were reported in the first two years of the surveys in a 10-county area that includes Muscatine County.
That doesn't necessarily mean, however, that there were no bobcats in the region at that time, he said.
In 2008, the third year of the surveys, there were 100 sightings per 1,000 hunting hours recorded. After 10 years, Andrews said, the survey will be more reliable in terms of telling the story of how the bobcat population is spreading from northern Missouri and southern Iowa.
The DNR estimates that there are 1,500-2,000 bobcats statewide.
Andrews said the habitat in Iowa, including the increase of grasslands and brush-filled reserves created by conservation programs, will allow continued growth.
"There is an increase ever so small into northeast Iowa. There is no reason to think that in 10 years there won't be sizeable numbers unless there is some disease, such as distemper, which is common in felines, that wipes out the population."
There was a time when Iowans, especially farmers, would kill bobcats before the animals could kill their chickens, hogs or young calves. Today, the threat to farm animals is significantly less because of hog and chicken confinements, Andrews said.
The modern-day biologist recognizes there is a role for predators and hopes to see the number of bobcats increase, he added. And if you have heard the rumor that the DNR released bobcats into the wild to control the deer population, you are not alone. But don't believe the buzz, Andrews said.
"That is completely unfounded," he said, adding that bobcats usually hunt for smaller animals as their meals.
"It's not very often that a bobcat would take down a full-grown deer, but not impossible," he added.
Small domestic animals such as dogs or cats may be a different story, he said, and that is one thing the Christiansons said concerns their neighbors.
Other government agencies suggest you not panic if you see a bobcat since they rarely attack people. When they do, they usually have rabies.
Bobcats may be attracted to yards with abundant wildlife, small pets, shade or water. Small pets need to be protected from bobcats and other predators in an enclosed area.Experts suggest that people should not spread seed that attracts other wildlife and that they not feed bobcats.
If you see a bobcat, enjoy the view, said Campbell, who has never seen one alive in the wild but added that he recently picked one up that had been killed by a vehicle on U.S. 61 north of Muscatine near Sweetland Road.
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Ron Andrews, a furbearer research biologist with the DNR, said bobcats have maintained a notable increase in population across the southern portion of the state since 1977, when they were listed as an endangered species.
But by 2001, the trend was reversing and the Natural Resource Commission downlisted the bobcat from endangered to threatened.
By 2003, DNR staff tallied sightings, road kills and incidental captures of bobcats statewide, finding the animals to be common in southern Iowa.
Legal seasons have been established for harvesting bobcats in Iowa's two southernmost tiers of counties. There is no bobcat trapping season in Muscatine County.
Poaching a bobcat is a simple misdemeanor, said Tom Campbell, a conservation officer for the Iowa DNR in Muscatine County. He has never charged — or heard of — someone with poaching bobcats in the county.
According to bowhunter surveys taken over the past four years, Andrews said, no bobcats were reported in the first two years of the surveys in a 10-county area that includes Muscatine County.
That doesn't necessarily mean, however, that there were no bobcats in the region at that time, he said.
In 2008, the third year of the surveys, there were 100 sightings per 1,000 hunting hours recorded. After 10 years, Andrews said, the survey will be more reliable in terms of telling the story of how the bobcat population is spreading from northern Missouri and southern Iowa.
The DNR estimates that there are 1,500-2,000 bobcats statewide.
Andrews said the habitat in Iowa, including the increase of grasslands and brush-filled reserves created by conservation programs, will allow continued growth.
"There is an increase ever so small into northeast Iowa. There is no reason to think that in 10 years there won't be sizeable numbers unless there is some disease, such as distemper, which is common in felines, that wipes out the population."
There was a time when Iowans, especially farmers, would kill bobcats before the animals could kill their chickens, hogs or young calves. Today, the threat to farm animals is significantly less because of hog and chicken confinements, Andrews said.
The modern-day biologist recognizes there is a role for predators and hopes to see the number of bobcats increase, he added. And if you have heard the rumor that the DNR released bobcats into the wild to control the deer population, you are not alone. But don't believe the buzz, Andrews said.
"That is completely unfounded," he said, adding that bobcats usually hunt for smaller animals as their meals.
"It's not very often that a bobcat would take down a full-grown deer, but not impossible," he added.
Small domestic animals such as dogs or cats may be a different story, he said, and that is one thing the Christiansons said concerns their neighbors.
Other government agencies suggest you not panic if you see a bobcat since they rarely attack people. When they do, they usually have rabies.
Bobcats may be attracted to yards with abundant wildlife, small pets, shade or water. Small pets need to be protected from bobcats and other predators in an enclosed area.Experts suggest that people should not spread seed that attracts other wildlife and that they not feed bobcats.
If you see a bobcat, enjoy the view, said Campbell, who has never seen one alive in the wild but added that he recently picked one up that had been killed by a vehicle on U.S. 61 north of Muscatine near Sweetland Road.
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Iowa furtrapping season well underway
Iowa furharvesters reported 114 bobcats harvested as of Nov. 15, 10 days into the season.
Once the quotas are reached, trappers may keep any otter or bobcat captured within the 48-hour grace period. Otters and bobcats accidentally captured after the grace period and bobcats captured in an area of the state closed to bobcat harvesting must be turned over to the DNR without penalty.
The bobcat season is open in the southern three tiers of counties, plus Guthrie, Harrison, Monona and Woodbury counties. The open zone quota is 350 bobcats plus any that are trapped by midnight of the following day after the quota is reached. The season limit is one bobcat per licensed furharvester, regardless if it was hunted or trapped.
Iowa furharvesters reported 114 bobcats harvested as of Nov. 15, 10 days into the season.
Once the quotas are reached, trappers may keep any otter or bobcat captured within the 48-hour grace period. Otters and bobcats accidentally captured after the grace period and bobcats captured in an area of the state closed to bobcat harvesting must be turned over to the DNR without penalty.
The bobcat season is open in the southern three tiers of counties, plus Guthrie, Harrison, Monona and Woodbury counties. The open zone quota is 350 bobcats plus any that are trapped by midnight of the following day after the quota is reached. The season limit is one bobcat per licensed furharvester, regardless if it was hunted or trapped.
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