Trap and release Raccoons

[teejk]

We had the first bear in Indiana in the past 100 years here about two years ago. It came down from Michigan. Hung around all winter raiding trash cans and bird feeders. Got too used to people. They caught it about 30 miles north of the IN/MI border and put it down.

As for bobcats, I wish I'd see one. Never have. Can't start a hunting season if they don't know how many there are and where they are. I think they put the cart before the horse on that one.

The cats are nocturnal so unless you set your alarm and go looking for them you might never see one (kinda like wolves around here...I have seen a few in the daytime but mostly when heading out to the woods in the dark in pursuit of something that will most likely elude me). These DNR people all share information with each other. If the Indiana DNR thinks you have bobcats, I'm sure you have more bobcats than you know and probably have had for longer than you know. Those DNR folks are a cautious bunch, hence our exploding bear population...I think the statewide harvest quota now exceeds the population estimates from not long ago and bears are being found where nobody ever thought they would be found. Same for bobcats. Wisconsin only recently admitted that they had expanded their range and the highly sought harvest permits are now available in a huge part of the state.

 

[EddieWalker]

Nature was in balance before humans messed it up.

Actually, this isn't even close to being true. Mother nature is the cruelest thing out there with massive swings based on enormous suffering. One easy to follow example is the mule deer heard of South East Idaho. For several years they had a very mild winter and the population of deer increased beyond the carrying capacity of the land during non drought years. Then one winter, it snowed like it used to snow, and the entire deer heard, over tens of thousands of acres where all trying to find food that didn't exist. Over 90 percent of the deer died that winter. When the deer died off, the predators that eat deer had to find something else to eat. They quickly decreased the populations of small game animals, and then they too starved and died off. It's taken decades for the numbers of animals there to recover.

Name a big game species anywhere in the word and this pattern happens over and over again. Populations increase to beyond what the land can support, and then the majority of the animals starve to death. Name a small game species anywhere in the world, and the same thing happens to them too!!!

Only where humans intervene and keep populations in check do we put off the massive die offs caused by Mother Nature. Imagine a cattle farm and how many animals that farm can support. If they keep the number of animals at the amount the land can sustain, you have all healthy animals. Get too many cattle, and they all get sick. Keep adding cattle, and the sick begin to die until most are dead.

 

[ovrszd]

How do you know that for certain? Maybe we were here first and the critters came later.

Are you an American Indian descendent?

 

[ovrszd]

As for bobcats, I wish I'd see one. Never have. Can't start a hunting season if they don't know how many there are and where they are. I think they put the cart before the horse on that one.

This female raised 3 kittens this Summer on my farm. I've been within 100ft of her several times. I'm in the timber all the time and she got used to me. Only way I'd know she was around was the dog would stay very, very close to me while in the timber. Poor video, but best I could do under spur of the moment sightings. I very much enjoyed watching the kittens grow. First time I saw them they could stand on your hand.

Missouri Bobcats 1 - YouTube

 

[ovrszd]

The cats are nocturnal so unless you set your alarm and go looking for them you might never see one (kinda like wolves around here...I have seen a few in the daytime but mostly when heading out to the woods in the dark in pursuit of something that will most likely elude me). These DNR people all share information with each other. If the Indiana DNR thinks you have bobcats, I'm sure you have more bobcats than you know and probably have had for longer than you know. Those DNR folks are a cautious bunch, hence our exploding bear population...I think the statewide harvest quota now exceeds the population estimates from not long ago and bears are being found where nobody ever thought they would be found. Same for bobcats. Wisconsin only recently admitted that they had expanded their range and the highly sought harvest permits are now available in a huge part of the state.

Whoops, maybe watch the video I posted above. My Bobcats are anything but nocturnal.

 

[the old grind]

No it's about laziness and stupidity IMO...and the latter can't be fixed.

You mean downright insults, don't you? As in takes one to know one?

I don't bait anything but live traps inside my buildings. Rant at those you accuse for the baiting and shooting. All I ever said was I trap what comes in my buildings. Revenge for Cindy was when one of the pack returned the next day. Yes I shot something that came back for dessert. I could have taken a pic for your pleasure before the shot, and just lied that I let it rejoin the group and eat whatever pet doesn't use a litter box. (btw, she was a boxer)

So who are you really after? :laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

Actually, this isn't even close to being true. Mother nature is the cruelest thing out there with massive swings based on enormous suffering. One easy to follow example is the mule deer heard of South East Idaho. For several years they had a very mild winter and the population of deer increased beyond the carrying capacity of the land during non drought years. Then one winter, it snowed like it used to snow, and the entire deer heard, over tens of thousands of acres where all trying to find food that didn't exist. Over 90 percent of the deer died that winter. When the deer died off, the predators that eat deer had to find something else to eat. They quickly decreased the populations of small game animals, and then they too starved and died off. It's taken decades for the numbers of animals there to recover.

Name a big game species anywhere in the word and this pattern happens over and over again. Populations increase to beyond what the land can support, and then the majority of the animals starve to death. Name a small game species anywhere in the world, and the same thing happens to them too!!!

Only where humans intervene and keep populations in check do we put off the massive die offs caused by Mother Nature. Imagine a cattle farm and how many animals that farm can support. If they keep the number of animals at the amount the land can sustain, you have all healthy animals. Get too many cattle, and they all get sick. Keep adding cattle, and the sick begin to die until most are dead.

I totally agree. As a small child my Dad explained this to me. He used rabbits as an example. I am very conscious of the wildlife on my farm. I watch them every day. My Bobcat numbers have increased over the past 5-6 years. My Turkey, Quail and Rabbit population is rapidly declining. When they are down to a low enough population the Bobcats will go. Then the smaller game will come back. I am not God. So I let this happen with no interference from me.

Don't mess with Mother Nature!!!

 

[MossRoad]

The cats are nocturnal so unless you set your alarm and go looking for them you might never see one (kinda like wolves around here...I have seen a few in the daytime but mostly when heading out to the woods in the dark in pursuit of something that will most likely elude me). These DNR people all share information with each other. If the Indiana DNR thinks you have bobcats, I'm sure you have more bobcats than you know and probably have had for longer than you know. Those DNR folks are a cautious bunch, hence our exploding bear population...I think the statewide harvest quota now exceeds the population estimates from not long ago and bears are being found where nobody ever thought they would be found. Same for bobcats. Wisconsin only recently admitted that they had expanded their range and the highly sought harvest permits are now available in a huge part of the state.

Here's a better article on it from the Indy Star.
Bobcats may soon be open to hunt and trap in Indiana under new proposal

 

[MossRoad]

This female raised 3 kittens this Summer on my farm. I've been within 100ft of her several times. I'm in the timber all the time and she got used to me. Only way I'd know she was around was the dog would stay very, very close to me while in the timber. Poor video, but best I could do under spur of the moment sightings. I very much enjoyed watching the kittens grow. First time I saw them they could stand on your hand.

Missouri Bobcats 1 - YouTube

That's too cool! Thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[/pine]

You mean downright insults, don't you? As in takes one to know one?

I don't bait anything but live traps inside my buildings. Rant at those you accuse for the baiting and shooting. All I ever said was I trap what comes in my buildings. Revenge for Cindy was when one of the pack returned the next day. Yes I shot something that came back for dessert. I could have taken a pic for your pleasure before the shot, and just lied that I let it rejoin the group and eat whatever pet doesn't use a litter box. (btw, she was a boxer)

So who are you really after? :laughing:

I call it like I see it...maybe doing some preventative work to keep them out of buildings rather than bait/traps that attracts them...DUH!