6/19/2007

Iowa Bobcat Season Approved

Iowa's Natural Resource Commission has approved a limited furharvester season for bobcats. The Commission, that met June 14 in Marion, set a quota of 150 bobcats, in a season to begin November 3 across Iowa's southern two tiers of counties.

For decades listed as a threatened species, the bobcat has shown slow, steady expansion in Iowa. A radio-telemetry study in south central Iowa has allowed biologists to 'follow' tagged specimen in the last several years. In addition, incidental captures of bobcats--in legal traps set for other furbearers--have risen in the past years. "This is a success story. These animals have been restored," underscored Ken Herring, Conservation and Recreation division administrator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at the Commission meeting. "This is an ultra-conservative quota. The population will continue to rise."

The commission's 5-1 vote followed 'pro' and 'con' comments from the public, both at the Marion meeting and in the weeks prior. DNR wildlife research supervisor Willie Suchy outlined evidence of the bobcat's expansion, especially through the southern third of Iowa. Suchy told commissioners that 160 bobcats were taken incidentally, in other trap sets, last season. "Of those, 60 percent were taken in the first three weeks," explained Suchy. "They would likely be caught legally (now) in this season." Bobcats caught in the past have been turned over to the DNR. Suchy also told commissioners that the limited season in the southern counties would not slow expansion of bobcats in other areas of Iowa.

The bobcat season is patterned after the river otter season, which was enacted a year ago. Furharvesters last fall reached the 400 otter quota in a matter of days. The Commission also approved river otter regulations for the coming season. They include a statewide zone, a harvest quota of 400 and allowance of two otters per furharvester. In the case of either species, the furharvester must contact a conservation officer, who would supply a special tag. The officer would call in the otter or bobcat to the DNR's harvest reporting system, which would track the number of animals harvested. The season would end January 31 or when the quota is reached, after a 48-hour grace period.

Also in that meeting, the Commission approved dates for beaver trapping, moving the end date for the season from April 15 to April 1.