Following widespread declines in the Midwestern U.S. in the 1900s, a remnant population of bobcats (Lynx rufus) in forested areas of south-central Indiana began expanding by the 1990s under protected status. To understand the dynamics of population recovery in this region, we collected data on bobcat movements to determine survival, home range sizes, and habitat selection, previously unknown for this species in the state. We trapped 38 bobcats, fitted them with VHF collars, and tracked them approximately 3 times per week via aerial and ground-based telemetry in a 644-km2 area of the Shawnee Hills Natural Region from December 1998 to April 2006.
Results/Conclusions
Yearly survival of all bobcats averaged 0.82 and was not different between males and females, nor between adults and subadults. Kernel density home ranges for males averaged 237.5 km2 and were significantly larger than average home range size of females (24.5 km2). Habitat selection did not differ between males and females. Results from resource selection functions indicated that bobcats preferred forest habitat to other habitat types (grassland, developed, open water). Bobcats also preferred low traffic roads but did not prefer or avoid high traffic roads. They also preferred locations farther from multiple habitat types (more homogenous habitat). Compared to studies of bobcats in other established populations, in our study, survival tended to be higher, home range sizes were larger, and habitat selection was narrower. Our results may be more typical of a recovering animal population, where lower densities of individuals were expanding into the most suitable habitat first.