8942997 total results

Reports on the results of the 1984-1985 Bobcat Survey. Pressure by concerned organizations and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has caused the Fish and Wildlife Service to compile comprehensive data on some furbearers. This documentation is necessary to verify the stability of populations and to justify continued harvesting and exportation of pelts.

The Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan supports numerous furbearer species, and the Department of Natural Resources is charged with managing the "Endangered" but rapidly recovering gray wolf (Canis lupus), the reintroduced fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (M. americana), the Federally regulated bobcat (Lynx rufus) and river otter (Lutra canadensis), and a number of other furbearers of varying status. Harvest information and physical data have been collected as part of the registration process for fisher, bobcat, river otter, badger, and incidental marten captures. Furbearer Winter Track Count Surveys have been attempted in the UP since 1996, and formal summaries of the results of the survey conducted in 1998 and 1999 were reported. A winter track count approach was selected, because many of the species of greatest concern are active on the surface of the snow during winter, and suitable snow tracking conditions in the UP normally extend from late January until early April. Routes were surveyed 1-3 days after a marker snow, and data from 11 furbearers and 5 other species of interest were collected. Marten tracks were found along 48% of the segments surveyed in 2000. The coyote (Canis latrans) was the most widely distributed furbearer, leaving tracks along 78% of the segments surveyed. The Lagomorphs (snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus and cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus) were the most widely distributed species group, being detected along 79% of the segments surveyed.

Furtakers were surveyed following the 2002 hunting and trapping seasons to determine the number of participants, days afield, and furbearer harvests. In 2002, about 12,000 furtakers pursued furbearers, approximately the same as in 2001. The species most frequently pursued by trappers were raccoons, muskrats, coyotes, and opossum. Hunters most commonly sought coyotes and raccoons. Harvest levels of most furbearers in 2002 were within historical ranges except for coyote. A record high number of coyotes was taken by trappers in 2002. Trends in harvest are affected by both changes in furtaker and furbearer numbers; thus, harvest per furtaker was also examined for trends. The mean number of raccoon and opossum taken per furtaker has increased since the 1980s. The mean harvest of coyotes per hunter has increased since the mid-1980s, while the mean harvest of red fox by both hunters and trappers has declined during this same period. These trends suggest that raccoon, opossum, and coyote may have been increasing in abundance during the last 20 years, while red fox numbers may have been declining.

Report of survey of a sample of furtakers contacted after the 2009 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.

Report of survey of a sample of furtakers contacted after the 2008 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.

Pressure by concerned organizations and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has caused the Fish and Wildlife Service to compile comprehensive data on some furbearers. This documentation is necessary to verify the stability of populations and to justify continued harvesting and exportation of pelts. Compliance with the mandatory skull submission was 56% (172 of 307) of bobcats registered. The combined totals for the two Regions exhibit a distribution in the age classes and sex ratios consistent with past year's data for either Region. As expected, the 0-1 and 1-2 year-old age classes made up a high percentage (62%) of the total animals examined.

Report on a study of bobcat stomachs to collect information on food habits.

Study on the trapping and marking of a variety of mammals, with details on trapping methods for each.

A survey was completed to determine the number of people hunting and trapping bobcats in Michigan, the number of days spent afield (effort), and the number of bobcats registered. In 2004, 3,725 people obtained a bobcat harvest permit valid for the hunting and trapping seasons. About 73% of these permit-holders attempted to hunt or trap bobcats (2,726 furtakers), and 30% of these furtakers registered at least one bobcat. An estimated 1,816 people attempted to hunt bobcats. Hunters spent 20,768 days hunting and registered 369 bobcats. Nearly 1,249 people attempted to trap bobcats. Trappers spent nearly 29,567 days trapping and registered 630 bobcats.

A survey was completed to determine the number of people trapping bobcats, the number of days trapping, the number of bobcats captured, and the number of bobcats released alive in the northern Lower Peninsula (NLP) of Michigan.

A sample of furtakers was contacted after the 2005 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests. In 2005, about 13,200 furtakers pursued furbearers; a decrease of 3% from 2004. About 33% of the license buyers trapped (6,959 trappers), 44% hunted (9,333 hunters) and 14% both trapped and hunted (3,058 furtakers) during 2005. The species most frequently pursued by trappers were raccoons, coyotes, and muskrats. Hunters most commonly sought coyotes, raccoons, and red fox. Harvest levels of most furbearers in 2005 were within historical ranges, except for coyotes. The number of coyotes taken by hunters was the highest recorded since 1980. Trends in harvest are affected by both changes in furtaker and furbearer numbers; thus, harvest per furtaker was also examined for trends. The mean number of raccoon and opossum taken per furtaker has increased since the 1980s. The mean harvest of coyotes per hunter has increased since the mid-1980s, while the mean harvest of red fox by both hunters and trappers has declined during this same period. These trends suggest raccoon, opossum, and coyote may have been increasing in abundance during the last 20 years, while red fox numbers may have been declining. An estimated 770 trappers caught 4,468 beaver through the ice during the 2005 season. Furthermore, about 894 trappers caught 2,746 beaver during April 2006. An estimated 91% of trappers that tried to catch coyote or fox used foothold traps. About 29% of coyote and fox trappers used snares in their attempt to catch coyote or fox.

Results of the first official bobcat season for Michigan 1955-1956.

Report on the results of the 1988-1989 Bobcat Survey. In order to allow the export of bobcat (Felis rufus) pelts under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service compiles data on the harvest and status of bobcats. This documentation is necessary to verify the stability of bobcat populations to allow for their continued harvest and the exportation of pelts.

Report summarizing issues relating to predator management, with particular attention to bobcat control.

Report of a survey of furtakers contacted after the 2011 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort) and furbearer harvests.

Report on the results of the 1997-1998 Bobcat Survey. In order to allow the export of bobcat (Felis rufus) pelts under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service compiles data on the harvest and status of bobcats.

This study was done to investigate characteristics of bobcat hunters and trappers, to determine their hunting and trapping practices, and to determine how these furtakers view the impacts of harvest on bobcat. In addition, hunters and trappers were asked whether they planned to trap bobcats next year in the Northern Lower Peninsula (NLP) and whether they would apply for a Wisconsin bobcat license if allowed. An estimated 2,379 furtakers hunted bobcats and 1,031 furtakers trapped bobcats during the 2003-2004 season in Michigan. Hunters spent about 24,400 days afield hunting bobcats and harvested an estimated 416 bobcats. About 15% of bobcat hunters harvested at least one bobcat. Hunter success was similar in both the Upper Peninsula and NLP. Trappers spent about 26,500 days afield trapping bobcats and harvested an estimated 782 bobcats. About 40% of bobcat trappers harvested at least one bobcat. Hunters most frequently used calls (57%) or dogs (45%) to hunt bobcats. About 31% of the bobcat hunters chose not to harvest the bobcat when they had an opportunity. Most trappers used foothold traps (79%), while 55% of the trappers used conibears (i.e., body gripping traps). Nearly 66% of the furtakers searched most frequently for bobcats in lowland forest habitat. About 42% of bobcat hunters and trappers reported that the bobcat population was stable. About 39% of bobcat hunters and trappers reported that the harvest was at an acceptable level. An estimated 19% of the bobcat hunters and trappers (579 furtakers) that were active in 2003 would be very likely or somewhat likely to trap bobcats in the NLP next year. About 9% of bobcat hunters and trappers (280 furtakers) that were active in 2003 reported that they would be very likely or somewhat likely to apply for a license to hunt or trap bobcats in Wisconsin if permitted.

Report on the results of the 1994-1995 Bobcat Survey. In order to allow the export of bobcat (Felis rufus) pelts under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service compiles data on the harvest and status of bobcats. This documentation is necessary to verify the stability of bobcat populations to allow for their continued harvest and the exportation of pelts.

Results of the 25th consecutive year of the bobcat survey in Michigan. In order to allow the export of bobcat (Felis rufus) pelts under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service compiles data on the harvest and status of bobcats.

A sample of furtakers was contacted after the 2004 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests. In 2004, about 13,600 furtakers pursued furbearers; an increase of 4% from 2003. About 33% of the license buyers trapped (6,923 trappers), 47% hunted (10,071 hunters) and 16% both trapped and hunted (3,356 furtakers) during 2004. The species most frequently pursued by trappers were raccoons, coyotes, and muskrats. Hunters most commonly sought coyotes, raccoons, and red fox. Harvest levels of most furbearers in 2004 were within historical ranges, except for coyotes. The number of coyotes taken by both hunters and trappers was the highest recorded since 1980. Trends in harvest are affected by both changes in furtaker and furbearer numbers; thus, harvest per furtaker was also examined for trends. The mean number of raccoon and opossum taken per furtaker has increased since the 1980s. The mean harvest of coyotes per hunter has increased since the mid-1980s, while the mean harvest of red fox by both hunters and trappers has declined during this same period. These trends suggest that raccoon, opossum, and coyote may have been increasing in abundance during the last 20 years, while red fox numbers may have been declining. An estimated 23% of trappers used snares to catch coyote or fox, and about 6% of trappers attempted to catch beaver using snares in underwater sets.

Results of the 2005-2006 Bobcat Survey, the 26th consecutive year of the survey. In order to allow the export of bobcat (Felis rufus) pelts under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service compiles data on the harvest and status of bobcats.