Wisconsin Ag Connection – 09/15/2010
Farmers, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts can help monitor and document the expanding distribution of black bears and bobcats in Wisconsin through a new on-line reporting form that allows the public to submit black bear and bobcat observations. The Department of Natural Resources wildlife surveys section has developed a new bear and bobcat reporting application.
Black bears and bobcats are commonly found in the northern third of Wisconsin and much of the population for both species still resides in the northern counties. However, recent range expansion by both species has lead to more frequent sighting in southern counties. Wildlife officials are looking for reports of black bear sightings within areas that are outside of their normal range, particularly areas designated as occasional and rare on the distribution map. Bobcat sightings are to be reported statewide.
In addition to this new bear and bobcat monitoring effort the department has recently initiated citizen monitoring opportunities intended to collect more information on trends in deer reproductive success by reporting does and fawns seen together during the late summer and early fall, and 2010 will be the second season for the Hunter Wildlife Observation Survey which asks deer hunters to report on nine different wildlife species observed during the deer hunting seasons.
The DNR’s Bureau of Endangered Resources has a Rare Mammal Observation form for to report sightings of wolf, moose, cougar, lynx, wolverine, marten, or Franklin’s ground squirrel.
bigcatrescue.org
