Bobcats in Indiana?

[amboran]

Anyone ever seen one in Indiana? Last night around 9 p.m.we spotted one along US 31 about halfway between Columbus and Seymour (about 1/2 mile north of Azalia,IN). Really shocked wife and I-at first glance thought it was a deer(just because we've had too many close encounters with deer crossing highways). As we went past, we could see it was clearly a bobcat(just standing there watching us )go south-he was on the west side of highway.Definitely not a coyote-first bobcat I've seen in the wild.

 

[Eddie]

My dad says he saw one along Brouillette's Creek.

 

[VUPDblue]

See em all the time. They use them in construction all the time. There's even a tracked version.

 

[RelicHound]

see quit a few of them down here in the SW part of the state. Ive seen atleast a half dozen or so in the past few months{a couple may have been the same cat}...we had one walking across the field across from my apt last weekend at about 7am or so.

 

[Mini-14]

Have'nt seen one, But heard stories from friends who have.

 

[amboran]

After living 55 years-all here in Jackson County-it was pretty exciting to see one that close-couldn't have been more than 10 feet from the road.

 

[FordMan08]

This is a photo of a bobcat in Indiana.
Absolute masters of camo!!

 

[mwilson]

a friend of mine treed one while coon hunting outside of franklin a few years ago. had a collar on it

 

[BoilerWes]

My father in law hunts the Wabash bottoms near New Harmony and has seen them several times.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Anyone ever seen one in Indiana? Last night around 9 p.m.we spotted one along US 31 about halfway between Columbus and Seymour (about 1/2 mile north of Azalia,IN). Really shocked wife and I-at first glance thought it was a deer(just because we've had too many close encounters with deer crossing highways). As we went past, we could see it was clearly a bobcat(just standing there watching us )go south-he was on the west side of highway.Definitely not a coyote-first bobcat I've seen in the wild.

Yep. They are protected and some have tracking collars.

 

[shooter521]

They have Bobcats at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center near Brazil, where they are described as being native to Indiana. Never seen one in the wild, personally.

 

[VUPDblue]

Yep. They are protected and some have tracking collars.

Really? They're protected? I wouldn't have thought big cats in this state were protected, can you give me a link to that statute?

 

[shooter521]

Really? They're protected? I wouldn't have thought big cats in this state were protected, can you give me a link to that statute?

Someone posted it in one of the other "big cats" threads recently.

 

[amboran]

This is a photo of a bobcat in Indiana.
Absolute masters of camo!!

The one we saw last nite was more sandy colored and looked to be quite a bit bigger(and healthier-muscled) than this one in picture.Damn-wish I had a camera ready for these kind of close encounters.

 

[yj-guy]

There is a family of them living in my grandfathers woods in parke county. 3 of them. pretty sure that was just when they were too little to be on there own. if he will give me the pics i will post them.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Really? They're protected? I wouldn't have thought big cats in this state were protected, can you give me a link to that statute?

Just shoot one and take it to the taxidermist. You'll learn all about it.

 

[VUPDblue]

Someone posted it in one of the other "big cats" threads recently.

My search-fu must be weak, but I'll take your word for it...

...one would remain in my cross hairs if I came across it whilst in the woods though

 

[VUPDblue]

Just shoot one and take it to the taxidermist. You'll learn all about it.

I wasn't doubting you Jack, I really wanted to read the statute. I didn't think there were ANY big cats in this state, and if there were, I wouldn't think that there'd be enough of them to "protect". My curiosity is piqued now...

 

[shooter521]

Found it.

However, it appears I didn't read deep enough (see highlights)

312 IAC 9-3-18.5 Exotic mammals
Authority: IC 14-22-2-6; IC 14-22-32-6
Affected: IC 14-8-2-278; IC 14-22; IC 15-17-5
Sec. 18.5. (a) A person must not take, as defined by IC 14-8-2-278, an exotic mammal that is a species from any of the
following families of mammals:
(1) Bradypodidae (tree sloth).
(2) Bovidae (gazelle, bighorn sheep, antelope, and wildebeest), except for domestic cattle (genus Bos, including all dairy and
beef animals) and buffalo (Bison bison).
(3) Camelidae (camel and llama).
(4) Canidae (jackal, wild dog, and other exotic foxes).
(5) Cebidae (marmoset).
(6) Cercopithecidae (baboon and monkey).
(7) Cervidae (elk, moose, caribou, and other exotic deer).
(8) Dasypodidae (armadillo).
(9) Elephantidae (elephant).
(10) Equidae (wild horse and zebra), except for domestic horses.
(11) Felidae (mountain lion, lynx, tiger, and other exotic cats).
(12) Giraffidae (giraffe and okapi).
(13) Hippopotamidae (hippopotamus).
(14) Hyaenidae (hyaena).
(15) Macropodidae (kangaroo and wallaby).
(16) Myrmecophagidae (anteater).
(17) Orycteropodidae (aardvark).
(18) Pongidae (chimpanzee, bonobo, and gorilla).
(19) Procaviidae (hyrax).
(20) Protelidae (aardwolf).
(21) Rhinocerotidae (rhinoceros).
(22) Suidae (wild boar and other exotic swine), except for domestic swine.
(23) Tapiridae (tapir).
(24) Tayassuidae (javelina and peccary).
(25) Tragulidae (chevrotain).
(26) Ursidae (bear).
(27) A hybrid or genetically altered mammal of any of these families.
Exempted from this section are the following species of mammals that are not considered to be exotic mammals: white-tailed deer,
bobcat, red fox, gray fox, and coyote.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a person may take an exotic mammal only if the exotic mammal is:
(1) taken by a resident landowner or tenant while causing damage to property that is owned or leased by the landowner or
tenant; or
(2) a species from the family:
(A) suidae and:
(i) has been released or escaped from captivity; or
(ii) is a member of a breeding population in the wild; or
(B) bovidae, camelidae, or cervidae and slaughtered in accordance with IC 15-2.1-24 [IC 15-2.1 was repealed by P.L.2-
2008, SECTION 83, effective July 1, 2008. See IC 15-17-5.].
(c) A person may not possess an exotic mammal that is a species from a family listed in subsection (a) except as otherwise
provided by statute or this article.
(d) A person:
(1) may not release an exotic mammal that is a species from a family listed in subsection (a) into the wild in Indiana except
as otherwise provided by statute or this article; and
(2) must report the escape of any exotic mammal listed in subsection (a) to a conservation officer within twenty-four (24)
hours.
(e) As used in this rule, "exotic mammal" means a species that is:
(1) not native to Indiana; or
(2) extirpated from Indiana and either a:
(A) wild animal; or
(B) feral animal other than a dog or cat.

 

[VUPDblue]

Hmmm, interesting. It appears we can't shoot tree sloths here either.....