COLUMBUS, Ohio – The number of verified bobcat sightings in Ohio increased last year to 169, the third year in a row where the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has logged at least 100 sightings.
ODNR Division of Wildlife biologists verified 136 in 2011 and 106 in 2010.
Most of last year’s sightings came from Noble County in eastern Ohio and the counties immediately adjacent, but reports came in from in 31 of the state’s 88 counties, ODNR spokesman Jason Fallon said.
Once common in the state, bobcats vanished around 1850 but appeared to return in the 1960’s, based on some unverified sightings, Fallon said.
Since 1970, bobcats sightings have been confirmed in 43 counties with unverified sightings in 84 counties.