You might not expect to find a wild cat in your backyard, but the trail camera pictures you've been seeing people share online are real! (Well, some of them!) Bobcats are making a comeback across Indiana.

Once rarely seen in the state, bobcats have expanded their range over the past several decades. Today, Indiana DNR reports that they have been documented in nearly every county and are increasing in northern Indiana.

So, you may be wondering... what does that have to do with trees?

Well, quite a bit, actually!

Bobcats prefer areas where forests, brush, fields, and other types of habitat come together. Wooded areas provide important cover and help create the kind of natural landscape wildlife needs to move, hunt, and shelter.

Purdue Extension also emphasizes the important role Indiana landowners play in managing habitat for wildlife, including forests and other natural areas.

Indiana DNR continues to collect data about bobcats in Indiana. Work on the bobcat population model is ongoing in collaboration with Purdue University, while public observations help researchers understand patterns of expansion and monitor population trends.

We may not see a bobcat very often, but their return is a pretty interesting reminder that the trees and natural areas around us are part of a much bigger ecosystem.

And, with deer season here, get ready to hear some stories from local hunters who may spot one in the wild!

Healthy trees do more than look good. They are part of the habitat that makes Indiana home.

Friendly Reminder: As with all wildlife, bobcats should be respected if encountered. Their natural response is to move away from people. Bobcats should never be fed or approached, as doing so can reduce their natural fear of humans and lead to negative interactions.

Removing potential food sources, such as pet food and bird feeders that may attract rodents, can also help encourage a bobcat hanging around your yard to move on.

Have you seen a bobcat or another mammal of interest? Help Indiana DNR by Reporting your Sight

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