The final 2024-2033 Management Plan for Bobcat in New York State is now available. This plan provides a comprehensive review and update of the status of New York bobcats since the previous management plan was released. The updated plan addresses information gaps by providing a review of existing monitoring programs, new research to understand bobcat population dynamics and strategies for improving future data collection that may better inform decision-making.
DEC’s three main goals for bobcat management in New York are to:
- maintain or enhance bobcat populations in all areas of the state where suitable habitat exists;
- provide for the sustainable use and enjoyment of bobcats by the public; and
- ensure that DEC is meeting the public desire for information about bobcats and their conservation, use, and enjoyment.
A draft of the updated plan was available for public review and comment in January – March 2024. The final plan was modified to incorporate feedback from public comments. Updates from the draft plan include the addition of a section discussing recent research findings on bobcat occupancy, more detail on current bobcat research being conducted in New York State, and the inclusion of updated harvest and observation data. The full assessment of public comments can also be found on the DEC website.
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