The Bobcats of Kiawah
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By Jim Jordan, Town of Kiawah Island Wildlife Biologist
obcats are reputed to be shy, secretive animals that avoid humans
and development. They are often found living on the fringe of
development but are rarely found within it. Kiawah’s bobcats,
however, seem to follow their own set of rules, and for this reason
are unique. Most residents have likely seen a bobcat in their own yard and in some
cases on their porch or deck. How is this possible?
Below is Bobcat 200. She was captured on February 1, 2016, near Beachwalker
County Park and weighed 15 pounds, 8 ounces. She was originally tagged as a kitten
on April 3, 2013 and was collared during 2014 (Bobcat 200) and 2015 (Bobcat 450,
named “Susan”). Her home range extends from Captain Sams spit to Night Heron
Park. We found her with two 10-day old female kittens in a den near Beachwalker
County Park on March 30, 2016.
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Photo by Jack Kotz