Another Recovery-Hunting Story

Bobcats in Illinois: Another case of recovery and hunting debate 

Bobcats are another example of a species that has achieved some recovery of numbers that has led to legislation to allow hunting of them which had been suspended because they had been nearly wiped out by the mid-1990s and were listed as an threatened species.  It also illustrates partisan differences over wildlife conservation—a bill to allow hunting of bobcats was vetoed by previous governor, Democratic Pat Quinn, but signed by his successor, Republican Bruce Rauner. It also illustrates the dynamics of coalitions. The major and successful proponent of bobcat hunting was a group of hunters who claimed that bobcats were taking game such as deer thus depriving hunters, though there is little evidence that bobcats take deer other than sick or injured deer. The legislation passed before opponents could mobilize effectively but now a coalition has formed consisting of Illinois Ornithology Society, Illinois Environmental Council, Sierra Club and the Humane Society, and some members of a local Audubon Society that have proposed a new bill that would bill “will amend the Illinois Wildlife Code to prohibit the sale of bobcat pelts and make it unlawful for any person to trap bobcat at any time.”  Thus bobcat hunting would still be allowed but not trapping.  Stories and photos on the bobcat issue in Illinois are available from the following Chicago Tribune article: Frank S. Abderholden. Bobcat conservation group continues fight after first Illinois hunt. Chicago Tribune, March 30, 2017. Accessed 3/30/17 from http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-lns-bobcat-supporters-continue-fight-st-0321-20170329-story.html
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