 Last week, during veto session, the Illinois General Assembly rushed through a proposal to allow a bobcat hunting season in Illinois. Opening up a bobcat season in Illinois without taking into account ecological sciences for best practices is a poor policy decision.
Bobcat hunting has been prohibited in Illinois since 1972 because the species became threatened.
Because of this ban and other restoration efforts, bobcats have recovered in some areas of Illinois. The current estimated population of bobcats is around 3,000, with most of the population located in the southern region. Studies by Southern Illinois University and anecdotal reports to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources from deer hunters provide good news about the recovery of this animal. Still, the bobcat is notoriously elusive and populations are difficult to accurately measure.
Testimony given in the Illinois Senate indicated that part of the reason this bill was introduced was to assist with overcrowding of bobcat populations. This is far from the truth; there are no areas with overcrowding of bobcats. Ecologically, bobcats disperse to new areas when food sources become limited. This dispersal is important for developing populations of bobcats in the vast majority of the state where the bobcat has not recovered.
Bobcats are important apex predators with a diet that mostly consists of rabbits, squirrels and rodents. The animal poses little to no risk to people or livestock or to game birds, which are only rarely eaten by bobcats. The presence of this animal overall improves natural areas, making better habitat for all wildlife, including game.
While we are skeptical about the need for bobcat hunting to even occur in Illinois, HB 4226 needs more protections to make sure these animals never become threatened populations again. The legislation should at a minimum include greater standards for scientific studies of populations before hunting can be allowed in any county. Currently, this bill could allow hunting in any county in Illinois, which we strongly oppose.
Further, any program should contain emergency provisions to close the season if there is evidence that the populations are becoming threatened again. Finally, the proposed season from Nov. 1-Jan. 15 should be reevaluated. The proposed hunting season in the bill is too early. Bobcats can still have kittens that are just weeks old as late in the season as the end of November. If kittens are left abandoned because their mother was taken, this will increase kitten mortality rates and raise even more concerns about sustainability.
IDNR does a good job of managing its hunting programs. While we are skeptical of the need for a bobcat hunting program, we suggest that any program deserves heightened scrutiny and attention to science because of the importance of this species and its formerly threatened status.
During testimony in the Illinois Senate, the sponsor suggested that opening up a bobcat hunting season is an important way to encourage outdoor recreation. IEC has had hundreds of birdwatchers, hikers, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts contact us concerning their opposition to this bill. Many have shared anecdotes about their excitement after seeing a bobcat. We suggest that being able to view these animals – perhaps in even greater areas of the state – is an even better way to encourage outdoor recreation in Illinois.
We urge Gov. Pat Quinn to veto HB 4226, which opens up a bobcat season in Illinois. If he does veto and the General Assembly takes up this legislation again, we urge the legislature to take testimony from ecologists and scientists before making its decision.
Jen Walling has been executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council since 2011. IEC has served as the eyes, ears and voice of the environmental community since 1975.
This article appears in Dec 11-17, 2014.
