PROTECT THE BOBCATS
Bobcat conservation
Why it matters
Bobcats play a vital role in keeping the ecosystem balanced. They keep down the population of animals that are lower in the food chain. By doing this they keep these animals from increasing their populations rapidly. Not only is this a nuisance for humans, but it is a danger to the plants that they would over-graze. Protecting animals, both by changing our actions and legally, after they are already endangered is too late. Working on the conservation of bobcats now will ensure that they do not become greatly endangered.
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Bobcats are being hunted for fur and for sport, population size is not of concern
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Their pelts go for around $20
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Due to a combination of threats (such as over hunting and deforestation, along with a lack of laws protecting bobcats) they are starting to become endangered again.
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There are very few ogranizations dedicated to helping bobcats.
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Although bobcats are only threatened as of right now, they will become endangered if nothing is done
1960s-
1970s-
1980s-
1990s-
2000s-
Now-
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Bans on hunting start to dissapear as the number of bobcats rises, certain states unlist them as endangered.
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Federally, they are still under full legal protection.
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Dramatic increase in the amount of bobcats being killed for sport and for their fur.
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Individual states start to put restrictions on hunting.
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90,000 bobcats being killed per year. Prices rise to $600 per pelt.
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As the population starts to become wiped out, full legal protection is given and bobcats are listed as endangered.
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40,000 skins being sold per year in states that are not regulating bobcat hunting.
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They are still considered endangered but the bobcat population starts to grow.
The amount of pelts sold each year is rising again such that bobcats are named the leading wildcat species in the skin trade (about 50,000 skins per year, around 10% of their population). Compared to 30,000 leopard skins being traded each year on the international market In agricultural areas bobcats are often killed as pests, despite the fact that bobcat attacks (and loss of livestock) are so rare that they tend to go unreported when they do occur. Deforestation takes away vital habitats for the bobcats. Although they can adapt to urbanization, it causes competition between bobcats.