Average bobcat weight
- Thread starter Anvil1187
- Start date
pwking
Member
Anvil1187 - I took this from the Iowa DNR webpage. They are currently doing research on bobcats to determine if they would like to make it legal to hunt them next year.
IOWA BOBCAT RESEARCH JOINTLY CONDUCTED BY
IOWA DNR AND IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the fall of 2003, Iowa State University researchers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) initiated a 3-year study on bobcat ecology in Iowa. The study is funded by the federal State Wildlife Grants program, funds which are matched with those of the DNR, and the university to support the effort. Goals for the project include understanding the distribution and density of bobcats throughout Iowa, determining habitat selection and home range area of bobcats in south central Iowa, determining survival and mortality rates, analyzing genetic aspects of bobcat populations in Iowa relative to adjacent states and diet analysis of bobcats in Iowa.
Here are some of the research results to date:
58 bobcats have been radio-tagged between March 2003 and December 2005 in south-central Iowa. The majority were captured incidentally by local trappers.
The average weight for female adults is 19 lbs. and 26 lbs. for adult male cats. The largest male weighed 33 lbs.
9 mortalities have been recorded: 4 roadkill, 1 predator, 1 train, 1 illegally shot, 2 accidentally trapped, and 1 unknown.
The annual male bobcat survival rate is 87%, while female survival rate is 84%.
Population growth of bobcats in Iowa is estimated at 3-7% increase per year, based on age structure of 280 bobcat carcasses.
Home-range estimates for males were 42 miles2 in the summer and 33 miles2 in the winter.
Female home-ranges were smaller than males in area: 9 miles2 during summer when females are with kittens, and increased to an average of 14 miles2 in the winter when food resources are more scarce.
Bobcats strongly selected forested habitats, and avoided rowcrops.
Since fall of 2003, more than 475 bobcat sightings have been reported in Iowa.
In the fall of 2004, bowhunters recorded bobcat sightings most often in the southwest portion of the state and relatively commonly across southern Iowa.
Since 2001, we have recovered and examined 280 bobcats carcasses from 31 counties in Iowa.
Juvenile male bobcats dispersed an average of 80 miles (straight-line distance), and juvenile females dispersed 12 miles (straight-line distance). The maximum travel distance recorded was a juvenile male that traveled 160 miles.
To gather the data necessary to complete our objectives we monitor bobcats that have been fitted with radio-collars throughout an 8-county study area in south-central Iowa (Warren, Marion, Clarke, Lucas, Monroe, Decatur, Wayne, and Appanoose counties), encompassing about 4400 miles2. Trappers and landowners have contributed essential effort to the study by contacting the research crew when a bobcat has been accidentally caught in a trap. The research crew immediately heads for the scene so they can anesthetize the bobcat, attach a radio-collar, sex, weigh, and roughly classify age based on size and tooth wear. We also collect tissue samples for genetic and disease analyses, and extract a tooth to determine the exact age of the collared bobcat. Bobcats are then tracked using a combination of vehicle-mounted antennas and satellite transmitters. Each animal is located at least 2 times/week and sometimes individuals are intensively tracked throughout the night to estimate habitat use and movement patterns.
Through the collaborative efforts of trappers, landowners, interested citizens, DNR technicians and biologists, and Iowa State University researchers this has been a successful project. Although there has been a lot of data collected since 2003, there is still data to collect and analyze. The first phase of the project will be finished during 2006, but bobcats will continue to be trapped, collared and tracked in south-central Iowa beyond that time. Continued interest of the public and continued cooperation of trappers and landowners will continue the success of this project.
Contact information:
William Clark, PhD.
Professor – Iowa State University
Ph. (515) 294-5176,
wrclark@iastate.edu
Todd Gosselink, PhD.
Wildlife Research Biologist – Iowa DNR
Ph. (641) 774-2958,
todd.gosselink@dnr.state.ia.us
Visit the Bobcat Project Webpage through Iowa State University
IOWA BOBCAT RESEARCH JOINTLY CONDUCTED BY
IOWA DNR AND IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the fall of 2003, Iowa State University researchers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) initiated a 3-year study on bobcat ecology in Iowa. The study is funded by the federal State Wildlife Grants program, funds which are matched with those of the DNR, and the university to support the effort. Goals for the project include understanding the distribution and density of bobcats throughout Iowa, determining habitat selection and home range area of bobcats in south central Iowa, determining survival and mortality rates, analyzing genetic aspects of bobcat populations in Iowa relative to adjacent states and diet analysis of bobcats in Iowa.
Here are some of the research results to date:
58 bobcats have been radio-tagged between March 2003 and December 2005 in south-central Iowa. The majority were captured incidentally by local trappers.
The average weight for female adults is 19 lbs. and 26 lbs. for adult male cats. The largest male weighed 33 lbs.
9 mortalities have been recorded: 4 roadkill, 1 predator, 1 train, 1 illegally shot, 2 accidentally trapped, and 1 unknown.
The annual male bobcat survival rate is 87%, while female survival rate is 84%.
Population growth of bobcats in Iowa is estimated at 3-7% increase per year, based on age structure of 280 bobcat carcasses.
Home-range estimates for males were 42 miles2 in the summer and 33 miles2 in the winter.
Female home-ranges were smaller than males in area: 9 miles2 during summer when females are with kittens, and increased to an average of 14 miles2 in the winter when food resources are more scarce.
Bobcats strongly selected forested habitats, and avoided rowcrops.
Since fall of 2003, more than 475 bobcat sightings have been reported in Iowa.
In the fall of 2004, bowhunters recorded bobcat sightings most often in the southwest portion of the state and relatively commonly across southern Iowa.
Since 2001, we have recovered and examined 280 bobcats carcasses from 31 counties in Iowa.
Juvenile male bobcats dispersed an average of 80 miles (straight-line distance), and juvenile females dispersed 12 miles (straight-line distance). The maximum travel distance recorded was a juvenile male that traveled 160 miles.
To gather the data necessary to complete our objectives we monitor bobcats that have been fitted with radio-collars throughout an 8-county study area in south-central Iowa (Warren, Marion, Clarke, Lucas, Monroe, Decatur, Wayne, and Appanoose counties), encompassing about 4400 miles2. Trappers and landowners have contributed essential effort to the study by contacting the research crew when a bobcat has been accidentally caught in a trap. The research crew immediately heads for the scene so they can anesthetize the bobcat, attach a radio-collar, sex, weigh, and roughly classify age based on size and tooth wear. We also collect tissue samples for genetic and disease analyses, and extract a tooth to determine the exact age of the collared bobcat. Bobcats are then tracked using a combination of vehicle-mounted antennas and satellite transmitters. Each animal is located at least 2 times/week and sometimes individuals are intensively tracked throughout the night to estimate habitat use and movement patterns.
Through the collaborative efforts of trappers, landowners, interested citizens, DNR technicians and biologists, and Iowa State University researchers this has been a successful project. Although there has been a lot of data collected since 2003, there is still data to collect and analyze. The first phase of the project will be finished during 2006, but bobcats will continue to be trapped, collared and tracked in south-central Iowa beyond that time. Continued interest of the public and continued cooperation of trappers and landowners will continue the success of this project.
Contact information:
William Clark, PhD.
Professor – Iowa State University
Ph. (515) 294-5176,
wrclark@iastate.edu
Todd Gosselink, PhD.
Wildlife Research Biologist – Iowa DNR
Ph. (641) 774-2958,
todd.gosselink@dnr.state.ia.us
Visit the Bobcat Project Webpage through Iowa State University
NateDog
New member
I read in Predator mag or Predator extreme magazine about bobcats. There is no real average weight because they vary so much by location. From what I recall them saying about the mid west area, 20-25lbs was normal. Males being closer to 25, and females closer to 20. Northern cats obviously get bigger. They said that 30 pounders are more common. And South west cats ranged in the high teens to low 20's.
BrianDamage
New member
Quote:
I got my first bobcat the other evening. It weighed almost 20 pounds, 19.6 to be exact. Not sure if he is average, small or what.
What is the average weight of a bobcat?
19.6 is exactly what mine weighed that I killed last year (also my first)
I got my first bobcat the other evening. It weighed almost 20 pounds, 19.6 to be exact. Not sure if he is average, small or what.
What is the average weight of a bobcat?
19.6 is exactly what mine weighed that I killed last year (also my first)
okdogslayer
New member
20 pounds is average for me