Bobcat

Bobcats are classified as a furbearing animal.  Furbearers include bobcat, fox, marten, mink, muskrat, beaver, otter, lynx, fisher, and badger.  Of these, lynx and fisher are fully protected with no legal harvest, and otters have a quota.  Lynx are listed as threatened and wolverine are listed as protected non game.   None of the other furbearers have quotas or limits except a few controlled hunts for beaver.  Fur trapping effort fluctuates with fur prices as much as anything.  When fur prices are up, people tend to trap more.  When they are down, people trap less.  License sale fluctuates with fur prices as well.  Bobcat harvest fluctuates with fur prices and they have gone through several cycles over the last few decades and so have bobcat populations.  Recent high harvest has declined likely a result of fur prices declining and reduced trapping pressure.  We continue to monitor annual harvest and survey trappers to identify any concerns for bobcat and other furbearer populations.