DNR IS ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON PROPOSED OTTER, BOBCAT SEASONS

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is taking comments on a proposed
river otter trapping season, and a proposed bobcat hunting and trapping
season.  Both seasons would be limited to certain areas of the state, and
have quotas, with the possibility of
expanding statewide in the future.

The DNR is proposing a trapping zone for river otters for the area of
the state east of U.S. highways 63 and 71 and south of U.S. Hwy. 30.
The DNR is proposing a limit of 300 river otters in the zone, and a
season limit of two river otters per trapper.  The river otter
population is growing at an estimated rate of more than 6.5 percent
annually, and with the harvest limit of 300 otters per year, the season
should have no impact on the overall population, and still allow for
considerable growth.

Trappers will be required to report a harvest to the DNR within 24
hours, and must tag the otter within 72 hours with either a U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service tag or an Iowa River Otter Harvest tag.

The bobcat hunting and trapping proposal includes a zone south of I-80
and U.S. Hwy. 20, and west of U.S. Hwy. 71.  The season will have a
limited harvest of 200 bobcats.  With a current population growth of
about 7 percent annually, the quota will still allow for considerable
population growth.

Bobcat harvest will have the same tagging requirements as river otters.
The proposed seasons for both species is the first Saturday in November
through Jan. 31, the same as other furbearer seasons.

The following information meetings are scheduled.

Feb. 7, Washington County Conservation Commission at Marr Park,
Washington, at 7 p.m.


Feb. 10, Atlantic Public Library, 507 Poplar St., Atlantic, at 7 p.m.

Feb. 23, F & M Bank, backdoor, alley entrance, 101 East Main St.,
Manchester, at 7 p.m.


Feb. 28, Iowa Lakes Community College, 1900 Grande Avenue, Spencer at 7
p.m.

March 8, Pin Oak Nature Center, Chariton, at 7 p.m.

Both species are open to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
depredation policy.

More information on the proposals is available at www.iowadnr.com, then
click on wildlife.  There is an opportunity to send comments directly
from the page.

For more information, contact Ron Andrews, state furbearer biologist,
at 641-357-3517.

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