The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a native Ohio species. Due to habitat loss and unregulated hunting, the species was extirpated, or locally extinct, from Ohio by the mid-1800s. The first modern-day sighting occurred in 1946. The bobcat’s return has been a gradual, natural process, spurred by reforestation and expansion from neighboring states. This comeback highlights the recovery of forested habitats and the state’s potential to support a healthy population.
The Current Status of the Bobcat Population
Wildlife officials do not calculate a precise census number for the bobcat population, as this is impractical for an elusive species covering a large area. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife monitors the population trend through confirmed sightings and density estimates. The population is established and expanding, showing a consistently increasing trend in confirmed reports over the last two decades. Confirmed sightings have grown dramatically since the early 2000s, reaching over 500 reports annually between 2019 and 2021, and 777 confirmed sightings in 2024 alone.
Research conducted by Ohio University and ODNR provides density estimates for core population areas. Studies indicate a density of approximately 17.9 bobcats per 100 square kilometers in eastern Ohio and 11.3 bobcats per 100 square kilometers in southern Ohio. These figures suggest that eastern Ohio offers better overall habitat conditions for the species. The increasing population led to the bobcat being downlisted from endangered to threatened in 2012, and then fully delisted from the state’s threatened species list in 2014.
The bobcat is now legally protected in Ohio, meaning it cannot be hunted or trapped. Roadkill remains a significant source of mortality. Research indicates that between 6% and 18% of the bobcat population is predicted to be killed on roads annually. Officials continue monitoring this recovering native species.
How Wildlife Officials Track Population Numbers
The ODNR Division of Wildlife monitors the bobcat population using non-invasive methods, relying on data submitted by the public. Citizen-reported sightings are the primary method for tracking distribution and abundance changes over time. These reports are submitted through an online system and must undergo a verification process to be counted as confirmed sightings.
Verification often involves photographic evidence, such as images from remote trail cameras, or the presence of a road-killed animal. The location information from confirmed sightings is used to map the species’ range expansion across the state. Officials also use the annual bowhunter survey, which offers a standardized measure of observation effort, helping to track the relative change in the bobcat observation rate.
For detailed scientific analysis, researchers employ techniques like DNA analysis on collected scat or hair samples to estimate local densities. This genetic monitoring helps determine population structure and confirms reproduction in new areas. This data feeds into habitat suitability models, guiding future management decisions.
Where Bobcats are Most Commonly Found
The distribution of bobcats in Ohio is concentrated in the southeastern portion of the state, within the unglaciated Appalachian region. This area offers the most favorable habitat because of its rugged terrain, dense forest cover, and lower human population density. Counties in southeastern Ohio consistently report the highest numbers of confirmed bobcat sightings.
While the core population is in the southeast, bobcats have been confirmed in 81 of Ohio’s 88 counties. The species is expanding along natural dispersal corridors, such as forested patches along the Ohio River Valley. These corridors allow bobcats to avoid large agricultural fields and urban development, facilitating movement into new, suitable areas.