State surveyor encouraged by bobcat sighting in Ohio

ATHENS, Ohio - A state Division of Wildlife surveyor says a recent bobcat sighting in southeast Ohio was helpful as the state tries to determine why bobcats seem to have thrived more in some parts of the state than in others.

The Athens Messenger reports that wildlife biologist Suzi Prange says the bobcat accidentally trapped and released unharmed recently in Meigs County probably weighed about 30 pounds.

Biologist surveyor Suzi Prange says the state has controlled studies in Noble and Vinton counties. Seven bobcats were tracked using GPS last winter. The division hopes to study eight in each of those southeast counties this year.

Prange says there are an estimated 1,000 bobcats in Ohio, but not many have been spotted in Meigs or Athens counties.

The studies focus on movements, survival and reproduction.