Area bobcat population is climbing

As this column has noted before, our section of the state is going through some major changes – in natural habitat characteristics as well as the wildlife species that the changed flora attracts. Most noticeable have been the increased presence of predator species such as coyote and black bears. Earlier this week the DEC verified this when it announced it was installing a three-year experimental research on another predator, by holding a bobcat trapping season that will include portions of our region

The experimental season will also include trapping for fisher and bobcat in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 6A, 6C, and 6H, which include northern parts of Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, that will be implemented beginning November 1, 2006 through special permits issued to trappers. Noteworthy under this program is that trappers who obtain a special permit for the bobcat trapping season will be able to trap bobcats in WMUs 4F, 4N and 4O, which include parts of Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Broome and Chenango counties. Fisher trapping will be prohibited in these three WWUs.

The bobcat season has been closed for more than 20 years in the latter three WMUs that DEC is proposing to open for trapping this year. During that time, particularly within the past 10 years, DEC has received numerous reports of bobcat observations, road fatalities and incidental captures from the public. These reports have led wildlife biologists to conclude that bobcats are now dispersed throughout the area proposed for experimental trapping. During these research seasons, bobcat hunting will not be allowed in these three experimental WMUs. This year, the bobcat trapping season will run from Nov. 1, 2006 to Feb.15, 2007. The following two years the season will begin on October 25th and run until Feb. 15.

Bobcats are one of our more elusive predators and, as such, sightings are rare, even in areas such as the Adirondacks and Catskills, where the densities are higher. In my lifetime, I've seen only three in this area. In 1956, we had one in a tree that was after one of our barn cats. In1960, one responded to my predator calling, and I spotted the third in 1968 when it crossed a road in front of my vehicle. I have, however, occasionally seen their tracks in the snow, usually in areas of low-growing conifers that held varying hares and cottontail rabbits, two of the bobcats' favorite preys.

Much like black bears, bobcats prefer low-growing thick cover, and our area is getting an ever-increasing amount of that type of habitat as abandoned pastures and fields continue to revert to natural growth. Dense swamps are another favorite, as are larger evergreen plantations such as Christmas tree farms. This type of dense cover offers the cats security and also hunting opportunities for voles, rabbits, hares and, in springtime, fawns.