Bobcat Trapping

Warden Terry MullenFish and Game Commission Meeting

April 9, 2015

Warden Terry Mullen

Background/Education:• 14 years Dept. Fish and Wildlife – Wildlife Officer• Cal Poly Pomona, Declared Major: Zoology

Minor: Criminology

Experience:• 5 Years San Bernardino Deputy Sheriff/Helicopter

Pilot• 10 years Aerospace Technician B-2 Stealth

Bomber• 13 years U.S. Army Warrant Officer Helicopter

Pilot

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Presentation Overview

• Discuss current wildlife officer enforcement of bobcat trapping laws and associated challenges

• Illegal leg-hold trap and snare cases• Basic trapping industry information• Possible effects of banning bobcat

trapping for both partial-ban and full ban on law enforcement

Trapping Laws: California

• No “leg-hold”/body-gripping traps may be used in California.

• Only “live” box traps may be used • Trappers must check the trap daily

Current Bobcat Trapping Enforcement

• What to look for:– Habitat

Current Bobcat Trapping Enforcement:a refined enforcement technique

• Skill set cannot be taught in a classroom environment

• Difficult to find trap sets until a wildlife officer knows what to look for

• Once the officer understands the bobcat, where they live, and where they are trapped, locating trap sets becomes easier

Rocky hillsides provide bobcats with opportunities to climb up, look around, locate, stalk and ambush prey

Trappers will trap “points”. Points are ridges which intersect a flat area, such as a sandy wash

A bobcat in a trap was found in a desert wash 400 yards from this location. See the “point” on the left

Bobcats hunt aroundrocks and quail brush

Current Bobcat Trapping Enforcement

The dead vegetation on top of this trap was “out of place”. Trap was found by observing signs

associated with trappers

Where’s the trap?

Trap is located “in the shadow” of the bush.Wildlife officers vary the time of day of patrols, morning,

noon and twilight to get a different look. In the morning (No shadow) this trap is more visible.

Challenges of bobcat trapping enforcement

• Trappers are often successful in trapping by observing signs on the ground–Wildlife Officers must keep in mind

the signs they might leave behind–Cannot rely solely on trail cameras

as trappers usually discover them

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Daily Trap Check• Wildlife Officer

looks for signs of “daily” trap check visits

• Observations of multiple impressions of similar tire tread patterns on dirt roads

Leg-hold and snare cases

• Box trapping is effective enough to make it economical and not worth the risk of getting caught with illegal traps

• Unlawful trappers may transition to leg-holds and snares in areas anywhere bobcat trapping is banned

• The same unlawful activity may take place in closed areas under the partial ban

Cost per bobcat pelt 2014-15 Season

• Average price $600• Price for high quality pelt

$1,200• Record price for season $2,100

2009-10 season average price was $540

Bobcat Export Tag

Export Tag Report

This form is used by the Wildlife Officer while tagging the bobcats.

• Most trappers maintain “notes” indicating date and location of a trapped bobcat.

• Once the officer completes the form it is returned to Regional Headquarters enforcement administrative support personnel.

• Wildlife Management in Sacramento maintains the Trapping Report.

• If a trapper fails to return the form their trapping license may be revoked

• If a trapper takes no bobcats, then a “negative declaration” shall be submitted.

Draft 2/12/2015

Original proposed

closure zones

Draft 2/12/2015

Complicated multi-zonal

closure would require intensive

enforcement effort.

Current proposed closures

Extensive increase in closed area will

reduce enforcement effort compared to original proposed

multi-zonal closure on previous slide

Under a partial or complete bobcat trapping ban

• Lawful trappers may fade away or work in other states

• Unlawful trappers in California may transition to illegal leg hold traps and snares, which are very difficult to find

• Leg-holds and snares are cheaper and commonly used in greater numbers than box traps

• Intelligence indicates unlawful trappers may be waiting for a ban to go into effect– No competition or a significant reduction in

competition– Some may believe they will be able to use leg-hold

traps and snares with impunity– Former lawful trappers may be absent from the

field and unable to provide tips to wildlife officers wherever trapping bobcats is banned

– Many successful cases come from lawful trappers who provide tips. A partial or complete ban of bobcat trapping may remove these “knowledgeable eyes and ears” from the field

Under a partial or complete bobcat trapping ban

Leg-holds and snares• Marked by GPS coordinates • Leg-holds and snares may be checked by

“glassing” from a distance• No more “daily” mandatory trap check

requirements if a complete ban is implemented• Very difficult to effectively patrol with marked

green patrol truck which may require extensive undercover operations

Partial or complete bobcat trapping ban

• Probability of bobcats sold on the black market by hunters who posses a hunting license and a recreational bobcat hunting tag may increase

• Unlawful trappers may launder their illegally taken California bobcats through accomplices in other states.

• Spotlighting bobcats may increase

Under a partial or complete bobcat trapping ban

Warden Terry MullenCDFW Law Enforcement Division

Questions