Nebraskaland

40 Nebraskaland • November 2023 s I moved among patches of shoulder-high weeds at an abandoned farmstead in search of pheasants, I glanced over to see my younger brother, fresh out of hunter-safety training, become excited as he entered a clearing. "Whoa, what was that? It looked like a lion," he shouted as an unfamiliar creature scurried into cover. Despite any skepticism by those of us in the hunting party that day, we now know his exciting encounter, which happened in the mid-1990s, was surely a bobcat. While sightings of the species were rare in years preceding that hunt, the chance meeting coincided with an incredible population boom for the species, and such encounters have become more common by Nebraskans in years since. One Cool Cat The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is regarded as one of Nebraska's most handsome wildlife species, especially among cat- lovers. Notable features include its spotted fur, facial ruffs, ear tufts and, of course, the bobbed tail for which it gets its name. Bobcats average about 20 pounds, with the larger toms sometimes exceeding 30 pounds. They're about one-third the size of Nebraska's other resident wildcat species, the cougar, and stand under 2 feet tall. The bobcat's reddish-brown, gray and black-spotted coat provides camouflage that helps it ambush cottontail rabbits, its favorite prey. Studies have shown that more than 90 percent of the bobcat's diet consists of cottontails, but the opportunistic carnivore also will occasionally feed on ground-nesting birds, rodents and even deer. Reportedly, it is quick enough that it can sometimes grab a low-flying bird from the air. Yes, cat- like reflexes. Individual bobcats have a range of up to 30 square miles, but must avoid becoming prey to coyotes, cougars, foxes, owls and humans. Although they may growl, meow, hiss or scream for mating and other reasons, they are quiet as they hunt for food, find mates and move between den sites. The bobcat is highly adaptable and has a broad distribution throughout the lower 48 states and bordering regions of Mexico and Canada. It is one of four lynx species in the world, and one of just two in North America. The other American species is the less adaptable Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) that resides in cold, snowy climates. The Boom Population estimates for such elusive, primarily nocturnal, species are difficult to figure, but evidence shows there are certainly more bobcats in the state than there used to be. Sam Wilson, Game and Parks furbearer and carnivore program manager, said the species' harvest records, which date back to 1941, indicate a remarkable surge within the past few decades. Similar to most wildlife species, the bobcat population suffered during the westward settlement of Euro- Americans in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It is a survivor, however. "The historical strongholds for bobcats were that wild part of the Niobrara River Valley, the Pine Ridge and maybe a few around the Wildcat Hills; those steeper and wilder areas of the state had a few that could stay hidden or eke out a living," Wilson said. Bobcat pelts are internationally coveted and are the most valuable of Nebraska's fur-bearing species. When the market is high, one pelt can fetch several hundred dollars. At a certain point in history, more hunters and trappers began enjoying bobcat success. "In the late 1990s, something changed. Biologists aren't really sure what happened," Wilson said. "Populations boomed across much of the Midwest, including Nebraska. Nebraska's harvest went from 50 to 200 for about 50 years all the way to 1,500. Not only did harvest go up, particularly in the southeast in the early years, but bobcats spread into most parts of Nebraska." Now, hunters and trappers are reporting bobcat success in all but just A By Justin Haag Booming Bobcats B J i H Something of a mystery, Nebraska's bobcat population remains healthy.

• Cover