Extended version of story that aired 3/7/16 on WNIJ
Bobcat hunting season starts this November in most of Illinois, but rules are still being worked out. The deadline for public comment is Monday, March 7. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is closing the 45-day comment period.
Illinois lawmakers decided last year the formerly threatened bobcat is now common enough allow hunting. 300 of the big cats can be killed: 500 hunters get a shot at taking one. The Humane Society opposes the hunt, especially trapping. State director Marc Ayers says there’s also not enough research. He says “We need to make sure bobcats aren’t going to be put back on the threatened species list after they’ve already made a fairly good recovery.”
But Kraig Kaatz of the Illinois Trappers Association says populations of the indigenous bobcat are recovering and, like anything, need to be kept in balance: “We can’t plan on reintroducing something and just letting it run crazy without having plans for long-term success and also for control of populations.”
The proposed rules are at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ website. Comments are only accepted by mail and must be postmarked by Monday, March 7th.
Comments may be mailed to:
Anne Mergen
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Legal Counsel
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
The Illinois Environmental Council also iscollecting names and comments to forward on to theIDNR.
Tune in Monday on Morning Edition on WNIJ to hear more from supporters and opponents of bobcat hunting.
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