Originally Posted by super_hunt54

What releasing procedure? They haven't trapped and relocated any Bobcat in Illinois. At least the IDNR hasn't anyway. The last study (before this latest one) was ended in 1999 with a grand total of 2250 estimated cats in 101 counties in Illinois. It's now estimated at 5000 (same county count) 16 years and the population only doubling isn't that great of a rise at all really. Especially with a protected animal that generally should have around a 20-25% rise in population per year being protected. They aren't like rabbit's but their reproductive cycle is such that it should have had a much better bounce back than that. It certainly shows no evidence of re-population through releasing/relocating procedures by Human means. They really just don't have a heck of a lot of preferred habitat. We have a good bit of younger tree growth and good underbrush on our properties (preferred habitat) which is why I see a good number of them. But overall in Illinois there has just been WAY too much clearing and urban sprawl for a happy Bobcat habitat statewide.