rsg_book_2013

MammalsRe-introduction of bobcats to Cumberland Island,Georgia, USA: status and lessons learnedafter 25 yearsDuane R. Diefenbach 1 , Leslie A. Hansen 2 , Cassandra Miller-Butterworth 3 , Justin H.Bohling 4 , Robert J. Warren 5 & Michael J. Conroy 51 - U. S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife ResearchUnit, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USAddiefenbach@psu.edu2 - Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA hansenl@lanl.gov3 - Penn State Beaver, 100 University Drive, Monaca PA 15237, USAcmm48@psu.edu4 - Pennsylvania State University, Department of Ecosystem Science andManagement, University Park, PA 16802, USA jhb24@psu.edu5 - Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, AthensGA 30602, USAIntroductionThe bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a medium-sized spotted cat (4 - 18 kg), widelydistributed in North America. Bobcats are legally harvestable in most of theirrange, and are currently classified as Least Concern by IUCN and listed inAppendix II of CITES, due to similarity of appearance with other spotted catspecies. Bobcats in the coastal plain region of Georgia, USA, occur at densities of0.4 - 0.6 per km 2 . The most common prey of bobcats across most of their rangeare cottontail rabbit species (Sylvilagus sp). Cumberland Island is the largest ofGeorgia’s Atlantic coastal barrier islands. Since 1972, approximately 80% of theisland has been administered by the National Park Service as Cumberland IslandNational Seashore (CINS). The island has a subtropical climate and containsapproximately 85 km 2 ofupland habitat. It isaccessible only by boat orsmall plane. Thirty-twobobcats were released onCINS during 1988 - 1989.Goals Goal 1: Restore anextirpated nativespecies to CINS. Goal 2: Reduceabundance ofBobcat on Cumberland Island © F. Whitehead235