In the early 1900s, bobcats were restricted to the Adirondack, Catskill, and Taconic Mountains, areas that are still considered core bobcat range in New York. However, bobcat populations have grown and expanded into central and western New York.
Today, bobcats can be found throughout the state, except for Long Island. They are well-established in the Southern Tier, and populations are continuing to grow in the Lake Plains area. Although their elusive nature makes them difficult to spot, they have been documented in every county.
New York is one of 39 states with regulated hunting and trapping seasons for bobcats.
The final 2024-2033 Management Plan for Bobcat in New York State is now available. This plan is a review and update of the status of New York bobcats since the previous management plan was released.
The updated plan addresses information gaps by providing a review of existing monitoring programs, new research to understand bobcat population dynamics, and strategies for improving future data collection that may better inform decision-making.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, who is responsible for producing the plan, and for regulating the hunting and trapping of Bobcats in New York State, the three main goals for bobcat management in New York are to: “Maintain or enhance bobcat populations in all areas of the state where suitable habitat exists; Provide for the sustainable use and enjoyment of bobcats by the public; and Ensure that DEC is meeting the public desire for information about bobcats and their conservation, use, and enjoyment.”
A draft of the updated plan was available for public review and comment in January – March, 2024.
Updates from the draft plan include the addition of a section discussing recent research findings on bobcat occupancy, more detail on current bobcat research being conducted in New York State, and the inclusion of updated hunting, trapping and observation data. The full assessment of public comments can also be found on the DEC website.
View a summary of the 2024-2033 Bobcat Plan here.
Photo of bobcat by Peggy Cannon.
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