WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS VERIFY 14 BOBCAT SIGHTINGS IN OHIO DURING 2004
COLUMBUS, OH - Evidence of bobcats living in Ohio’s eastern and southeastern counties continues with the confirmation of 14 sightings by state wildlife officials during 2004, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. This represents a slight increase from the 10 verified sightings in 2003.
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 74 bobcat sightings in 32 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 2004 reports occurred in the following counties: Washington, Harrison, Athens, Noble, Vinton, Guernsey, Lake, Meigs, Morgan, and Jackson. ODNR also received 52 unverified bobcat reports last year.
In 1997, the ODNR 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 ohiodnr.com