Indiana’s bobcat population is facing a dire threat. After years of recovery from near-extinction, the state is planning to open its first bobcat hunting and trapping season in decades. This decision will allow up to 250 of these elusive and once-endangered wildcats to be trapped and killed in southern Indiana¹.

This move not only risks reversing years of conservation progress but also raises serious ethical concerns. Animal rights groups and conservationists have voiced outrage at the plan, arguing that there isn’t enough scientific data to support it². The methods proposed for trapping bobcats—foothold and cable traps—are cruel, leaving animals to suffer for extended periods before being killed. Worse, these traps can harm non-target animals, including household pets and endangered species³.

Why Should We Stop This?

Bobcats are Indiana’s only native wildcat. They were removed from the state’s endangered species list in 2005 after careful efforts to protect and restore their population⁴. Yet, even with these protections lifted, their numbers remain fragile. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has admitted that their data on bobcat populations is outdated, relying on limited sightings and reports from hunters⁵. Without a comprehensive population survey, there is no solid scientific justification for allowing a hunting season.

Critics of the hunting season point to the potential consequences: disrupting the balance of our ecosystems and undoing decades of careful conservation. Hunting proponents claim the bobcat population threatens small game like rabbits and turkeys, but research does not support these claims¹. Rather, it shows that bobcats play a key role in controlling rodent populations, helping maintain balance in the natural world.

Trapping: A Cruel and Inhumane Practice

The proposed methods for capturing bobcats are nothing short of inhumane. Foothold traps and cable snares are notorious for the prolonged suffering they cause. These devices don’t discriminate. Pets, endangered species, and other non-target animals can all become victims³.

Animal rights advocates and ethical hunters alike have raised serious concerns about these cruel methods. The Indiana Humane Society has called for a zero-quota hunting season, urging the DNR to use its discretion to protect the state’s wildlife rather than catering to a small group of recreational trappers².

Public Outcry Can Make a Difference

Indiana’s wildlife belongs to all of us, and the majority of Hoosiers are opposed to this season. In 2018, public pressure forced the DNR to abandon a similar proposal⁴. This time, your voice can once again be the difference. The DNR is required to listen to public opinion before making its final decision, and the time to act is now.

Bobcats are an important part of Indiana’s natural heritage. Allowing their population to be threatened for the sake of a few hunters is shortsighted and unnecessary. We can and must protect these animals.

Act Now to Stop the Bobcat Hunt

You have the power to make a change. By signing the petition below, you’ll be joining thousands of others in calling on the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to halt this reckless plan. Let’s protect Indiana’s wildlife and ensure a future where our state’s only wildcat continues to thrive.

Sign the petition now to stop the bobcat hunting season and stand up for wildlife.

More on this issue:

1. Matt Christy, Fox 59 (17 September 2024), "Proposed bobcat hunting season sets quota at 250 bobcats, limits trapping to 40 counties."
2. Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle (18 September 2024), "Natural resource body readies bobcat, otter trapping rules."
3. Kitty Block, Humane Society (26 September 2024), "Indiana bobcat trapping season."
4. Sarah Bowman, IndyStar (17 January 2024), "Rules for new bobcat hunting or trapping seasons in Indiana to be finalized by next summer."
5. Daily Journal (22 January 2024), "Indiana lawmakers renew push to permit bobcat hunting and trapping."