Posted on Dec 12, 2022
A bobcat in Redhawk territory? Why Miami says that's a good thing
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A Miami University biology professor and his students were surprised as they played back footage from a trail camera last month. They're studying the deer population in Miami's 1,000-acre preserve system and expected to see what white-tailed deer there are eating. Instead, they watched as a bobcat tiptoed across a log, paused to glance about, then carried on its way.
"That was a real surprise because bobcats are still pretty rare in Southwest Ohio and this is the first time, to my knowledge, they've been seen at Miami's Natural Areas," says David Gorchov, professor of biology.
"That was a real surprise because bobcats are still pretty rare in Southwest Ohio and this is the first time, to my knowledge, they've been seen at Miami's Natural Areas," says David Gorchov, professor of biology.
A bobcat in Redhawk territory? Why Miami says that's a good thing
Posted from wvxu.org
Wildlife
Cincinnati
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good read/share Brother William.
Now, the inspiration for Miami rival Ohio University's mascot is popping up more frequently in Southwest Ohio.
"It's a big deal because we haven't seen bobcat around here for a while and that's human-caused," explains biology major Elea Cooper, one of the students working on the deer project with Gorchov. "We have driven out a lot of the natural predators such as wolves — we haven't seen (them) here in forever — and that's one of the reasons that we're having problems with ecosystem balance in this area."
Cooper says the bobcat sighting could be a good sign more balance is returning. Gorchov adds this signals biological diversity and the potential for even more growth in the Natural Areas.
For now, however, this is just one sighting. It's unknown whether the animal is living here or was just passing through. They also don't know anything else, such as if it's male or female, though Gorchov notes it is an adult.
Now, the inspiration for Miami rival Ohio University's mascot is popping up more frequently in Southwest Ohio.
"It's a big deal because we haven't seen bobcat around here for a while and that's human-caused," explains biology major Elea Cooper, one of the students working on the deer project with Gorchov. "We have driven out a lot of the natural predators such as wolves — we haven't seen (them) here in forever — and that's one of the reasons that we're having problems with ecosystem balance in this area."
Cooper says the bobcat sighting could be a good sign more balance is returning. Gorchov adds this signals biological diversity and the potential for even more growth in the Natural Areas.
For now, however, this is just one sighting. It's unknown whether the animal is living here or was just passing through. They also don't know anything else, such as if it's male or female, though Gorchov notes it is an adult.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Bobcats are native to Ohio but were extirpated from the state by the 1850s, meaning while they weren't extinct, there weren't any here. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports the wild cat species began repopulating in the mid-1900s, but sightings are more frequent in the south and eastern parts of the state.
Now, the inspiration for Miami rival Ohio University's mascot is popping up more frequently in Southwest Ohio.
"It's a big deal because we haven't seen bobcat around here for a while and that's human-caused," explains biology major Elea Cooper, one of the students working on the deer project with Gorchov. "We have driven out a lot of the natural predators such as wolves — we haven't seen (them) here in forever — and that's one of the reasons that we're having problems with ecosystem balance in this area."
Cooper says the bobcat sighting could be a good sign more balance is returning. Gorchov adds this signals biological diversity and the potential for even more growth in the Natural Areas."...
..."Bobcats are native to Ohio but were extirpated from the state by the 1850s, meaning while they weren't extinct, there weren't any here. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports the wild cat species began repopulating in the mid-1900s, but sightings are more frequent in the south and eastern parts of the state.
Now, the inspiration for Miami rival Ohio University's mascot is popping up more frequently in Southwest Ohio.
"It's a big deal because we haven't seen bobcat around here for a while and that's human-caused," explains biology major Elea Cooper, one of the students working on the deer project with Gorchov. "We have driven out a lot of the natural predators such as wolves — we haven't seen (them) here in forever — and that's one of the reasons that we're having problems with ecosystem balance in this area."
Cooper says the bobcat sighting could be a good sign more balance is returning. Gorchov adds this signals biological diversity and the potential for even more growth in the Natural Areas."...
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel It's pretty rare to see a bobcat here in my area of East Tennessee also. In all the years I have been here on my property I have only ever saw one. Never anywhere else around here.
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MAJ Roland McDonald
Have seen one in the southern smokey mountains between a line from Cleveland TN and Athens TN in the mountains on a side trail off the Appalachian trail. Was not close enough to determine sex of it but looked very healthy. Reported sighting to the rangers. They said they were aware of it. That was 3 years ago.
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