IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Johnson, S.A.; Walker, H.D.; Hudson, C.M. | |
| Dispersal Characteristics of Juvenile Bobcats in South-Central Indiana | |
| 2010 Journal of Wildlife Management (74): 379-385 | |
Bobcat (_Lynx rufus_) populations in the Midwestern United States experienced historic declines due to habitat loss and exploitation but have rebounded in recent decades. We investigated natal dispersal of juvenile bobcats from a population in south-central Indiana, USA, from 1999 to 2006. We radiocollared 16 juvenile bobcats (11 M, 5 F) and monitored them for 237-1,014 days (x î = 506). One female (20%) and 11 males (100%) dispersed from natal home ranges that averaged 14.6 km2 in size. Most juveniles (70%) initiated dispersal from mid-February through March, late in their first year. Only 5 bobcats (42%) ultimately established a final home range 63 +/- 35 km2 in size 13-92 km (x î = 44) from their natal range 140 +/- 45 days after initiating dispersal. Survival did not differ (P = 0.93) between dispersing (S = 0.73) and philopatric (S = 0.75) individuals, although 4 bobcats (3 M, 1 F) were killed in collisions with vehicles. We found dispersal of bobcats in fragmented landscapes is prolonged and often unsuccessful; the ability of dispersers to locate suitable vacant habitat patches may be vital to the continued growth of bobcat populations recolonizing the agricultural Midwest. |
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