Biologists: Bobcat collars set to fall off
Researchers seek public’s help retrieving the tracking devices
Tracking collars attached to bobcats in the state will be falling off over the next month and state wildlife officials are asking residents to keep an eye out for the devices.
Fifty bobcats were trapped and fitted with the collars from November 2018 to March 2019, part of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s ongoing research project.
The collars, which do not harm the animals and are programmed to drop off, continue transmitting until staff retrieve them, but anyone who finds one is asked to contact the wildlife division at 860-4243045, or deep.ctwildlife@ct.gov.
Biologists will use the GPS data to compare the state’s bobcat populations in rural and suburban areas.
“The information gained from this research will aid in the future conservation and management of bobcats in Connecticut and elsewhere,” said Jason Hawley, the DEEP wildlife biologist leading the project.
DEEP staff are particularly interested in bobcats’ success in reproducing and surviving in different environments. The wild cats have been resurgent in Connecticut, spreading into every city and town in the state. The research project also has found that in some cases, collared bobcats have moved into New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Last year, Hawley estimated the Connecticut population at 800 to 1,000. The species has been protected in the state since 1972.
Residents also are encouraged to report observations of bobcats, especially animals bearing yellow ear tags (include the numbers on the tags if visible). Reports can be made at the DEEP website, https:// bit.ly/2Te3tMSvia, the fish and wildlife Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/CTFishAndWildlife/, or by emailing deep.ctwildlife@ct.gov.
Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com