Bobcat Ecology Relative to Northern Bobwhite Management (Graduate Project)

Research Team: Ivy Godbois (Graduate Student), Jessica Cochrane (Graduate Student), Jordona Doughty (Graduate Student), Dr. L. Michael Conner (Associate Scientist) and Dr. Bob Warren (University of Georgia)

Bobcats are apex carnivores and may serve as a stabilizing force within wildlife communities. However, bobcats may be a major predator of northern bobwhite (hereafter quail). Currently, bobcats are controlled on most quail plantations, but the usefulness of controlling top carnivores as a quail management tool has not been studied. Indeed, the only study of bobcat ecology, on lands specifically managed for quail, indicated that bobcats were not a significant predator of quail. However, this study took place when there was a great demand for bobcat fur, and fur trapping may have kept bobcats densities low. Furthermore, habitat conditions between study sites used during this previous study differ substantially from habitat found on southern Georgia and northern Florida quail plantations. Therefore, this study will investigate bobcat ecology relative to quail management on Ichauway. Ultimately, this data will be used to model the effects of bobcats on quail populations.

Research in progress, publications forthcoming.

Funded by: The Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center, The University of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources