OTTER, BOBCAT TRAPPING SEASONS PROPOSED

Iowa wildlife officials feel populations of river otters and bobcats are now
strong enough to support a limited harvest of the once-endangered
furbearers.  Public comment is being sought on the proposal, with a notice
of intended action to go before the Natural
Resource Commission in March. If approved, seasons would be established  in
the fall of 2006.  Public comment is being accepted through the process,
which seeks final approval by June.

The proposal comes as sightings of otters and bobcats, and incidental
capture by fur harvesters, increase in Iowa. Iowa Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) furbearer biologist Ron Andrews says the bobcat
population is growing at about seven percent a year. River otter numbers
are increasing at six percent annually. Andrews anticipates a limited
season with a specified zone for each of the species. The harvest would
still allow population growth.

The DNR and Iowa State University are in the third year of an expected
six year cooperative study, using radio transmitter collars in a
nine-county area in south central Iowa to follow bobcats. At the same
time, complaints are being fielded from pond owners and fisheries
personnel about growing fish losses, due to increased otter populations.


For more information, contact Andrews at 641-357-3517.

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