Bobcat Populations Research Articles

First density estimates for a recovering bobcat population in Ohio using DNA from scat

AbstractThe recovery of mammalian species in the US Midwest through natural recolonization constitutes a conservation success story, yet management remains challenging due to many unknowns related to population dynamics and numeric trends. Abundance is a critical parameter for management decisions, and estimating the density and abundance of elusive species, such as terrestrial carnivores, remains challenging despite recent technological advances. In this study, we evaluated density and abundance of a recovering carnivore species, the bobcat (Lynx rufus) in two areas of Ohio using non‐invasive DNA from scat. The target areas in eastern and southern Ohio have been shown to have uneven dynamics and recolonization success and we expected that this would be reflected in differences in density and abundance. We collected 298 bobcat scats between July 2018 and April 2019 on 150 km of repeated transects. Of these, 102 scats were successfully genotyped, and 55 individuals were identified (33 in eastern Ohio and 22 in southern Ohio). Using Spatially Explicit Capture–Recapture models, we estimated 18.9 ± 4.1 and 10.9 ± 2.7 bobcats/100 km2 in eastern and southern Ohio study areas, respectively. Our results support prior telemetry data which indicated that bobcats in eastern Ohio had smaller home‐ranges than bobcats in southern Ohio, and thus could support a higher density of individuals. The higher densities were similar to other eastern US populations and are much higher than other Midwestern recovering populations. Our results provide a snapshot of the population status and can be used to determine sustainable management strategies for Ohio's bobcat population.

Factors influencing population growth in a bobcat population

AbstractBobcats (Lynx rufus) are the most broadly distributed native felid in North America and have substantial ecological and economic importance. Despite this importance, little is known about factors influencing population dynamics of this cryptic carnivore. Given recent apparent declines in abundance, we investigated population growth rate (λ) for a bobcat population in the Black Hills, South Dakota, USA, 2016–2022. We constructed and evaluated a females‐only matrix population model. Our estimate of asymptotic λ, derived from estimates of vital rates obtained over 6 years, was 0.85 (95% CI = 0.72, 1.02), which indicates that the vital rates in 2016–2022 were inadequate to sustain the population. Elasticity and sensitivity values were highest for changes in adult survival probability followed by, in order, changes in kitten and juvenile survival and adult reproductive contribution. Life‐stage simulation analysis also supported that adult survival was most important; however, the juvenile survival (91 day–1 year) component of a bobcat's first year of life was also important and a stronger influence on population growth than the kitten survival (first 90 days) component. For the combination of survival and reproductive rates we estimated positive population growth required either annual adult survival >0.85 or 275‐day juvenile survival >0.35, regardless of other vital rates. When assuming a baseline harvest rate of 23.5%, reducing the harvest rate to 9% led to a positive mean growth rate and a >0.50 probability of a growing population. Monitoring juvenile‐to‐adult harvest ratios can provide an indicator of age structure in the population, and we recommend restricting harvest when that ratio falls below 10%, particularly when managers lack research information on population growth.

Suburban Population of Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in Connecticut, USA, Tested Negative for SARS-CoV-2, November 2021-February 2022.

A SARS-CoV-2 genomic and serologic survey was performed in a population of bobcats (Lynx rufus) inhabiting the state of Connecticut, USA. Wild animal populations are becoming established in densely populated cities with increased likelihood of direct or indirect contact with humans, as well as with household cats and dogs. Wild-caught bobcats (n=38) tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR and for virus-neutralizing antibodies by ELISA, suggesting that either the species is not susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 or that the surveyed population has not yet been exposed to a source of infectious virus. However, this limited survey cannot rule out that human-to-bobcat or unknown reservoir-to-bobcat transmission of the virus occurs in nature.

Simulated effects of roadkill and harvest on the viability of a recovering bobcat population

AbstractBobcats (Lynx rufus) were extirpated from many midwestern states in the mid‐1800s owing to habitat loss and overharvesting. Recently, bobcats have recolonized Ohio, USA, and neighboring states and given their furbearer status elsewhere, there is interest in opening a harvest season; however, demographic factors and viability of this population are currently unknown. We developed a spatial population simulation model to assess the long‐term viability of the bobcat population in Ohio in the face of 2 human‐induced factors limiting population growth: potential harvest and road mortality. We combined habitat suitability and road mortality risk data with vital rates for bobcats from Ohio and other populations to simulate possible scenarios for Ohio's population. Our baseline scenario simulations showed no risk of extinction for Ohio's bobcat population in the next 40 years, but population trajectories were lower and exhibited greater uncertainty when we modeled the population with a lower maximum density of animals per cell. At low harvest intensity (αh = 0.05), the bobcat population also exhibits low risk of extinction. When harvest intensity increases (αh = 0.1, 0.15) or when adults (≥2 yr) are targeted by harvest, simulations show declining populations, greater uncertainty in projections, and possible risk of extirpation. Our models indicated that if harvest and road mortality are additive, then the bobcat population could withstand marginal increases in road mortality (αr = 0.1) at low harvest intensity (αh = 0.05). Future increases in road mortality with higher harvest intensity (αh = 0.1, 0.15) were unsustainable. Our results can be used by wildlife managers to assist with decisions on population‐level management. This simulation model can easily be adapted for other large mammals and can be modified to assess a variety of ecological and anthropogenic influences to wildlife populations.

Habitat suitability and landscape connectivity for an expanding population of bobcats

Habitat suitability and landscape connectivity for an expanding population of bobcats

Bobcats in southern California respond to urbanization at multiple scales

Urban areas impact wildlife populations through multiple pathways, notably habitat fragmentation and degradation. Wildlife can respond to development and other human-driven environmental change at multiple scales, from the individual to the population level, ultimately driving biodiversity patterns and processes in built and adjacent natural landscapes. However, multiple scales of space use are rarely considered in an integrated framework. Focusing on bobcats, a species associated with intermediate sensitivity to development, we explored factors affecting multi-scale space use and population density across San Diego County, a region in southern California characterized by a pronounced development gradient. We used remote camera data and GPS collar data in an integrated spatial capture-recapture + resource selection function approach. At the individual scale, bobcats selected against developed areas, while at the population level, bobcat densities were higher in habitat patches surrounded by development, suggesting that bobcat populations in these areas may be experiencing home range pile-up, a manifestation of the fence effect. Our results provide an integrated multi-scale view of the impacts of human-modified landscapes on wildlife, confirming that research on space use at the individual and population levels should be considered jointly to advance understanding of the mechanisms driving wildlife response to development. This approach has promise to improve conservation and management efforts for urban wildlife.

Habitat selection in a recovering bobcat (Lynx rufus) population.

Understanding habitat selection of top predators is critical to predict their impacts on ecological communities and interactions with humans, particularly in recovering populations. We analyzed habitat selection in a recovering population of bobcats (Lynx rufus) in south-central Indiana using a Random Forest model. We predicted that bobcats would select forest habitat and forest edges but avoid agriculture to maximize encounters with prey species. We also predicted that bobcats would avoid developed areas and roads to minimize potential antagonistic interactions with humans. Results partially supported our predictions and were consistent with bobcats in the early stages of population expansion. Bobcats exhibited elevated use near forest edges, thresholds of avoidance near agriculture, and thresholds of selection for low and intermediate habitat heterogeneity. Bobcats exhibited peak probability of use 1–3 km from major roads, >800 m from minor roads, and <1km from developed areas, suggesting tradeoffs in reward for high-quality hunting areas and mortality risk. Our Random Forest model highlighted complex non-linear patterns and revealed that most shifts in habitat use occurred within 1 km of the edge of each habitat type. These results largely supported previous studies in the Midwest and across North America but also produced refinements of bobcat habitat use in our system, particularly at habitat boundaries. Refined models of habitat selection by carnivores enable improved prediction of the most suitable habitat for recovering populations and provides useful information for conservation.

Density and activity patterns of bobcat in its southernmost distribution

Estimating density and activity patterns is useful for management and conservation of species. Data for Mexican bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations are scarce. Here we estimated the density of a bobcat population in Oaxaca, southern Mexico, and evaluated its daily activity patterns. We also evaluated macroecological patterns of bobcat density across its distribution range to determine any geographical (latitudinal, longitudinal, elevation, or range centroid) or climatic effects on the population density. Camera–trap data were divided into four 60–day periods (two in the dry season and two in the rainy season). Density was calculated using the random encounter model and daily activity patterns were analyzed fitting a kernel density function. The mean estimated density for the four periods was 17.3 bobcats/100 km2, with the highest densities occurring during the dry periods. Bobcat daily activity pattern presented two peaks, one after midnight and the other after dawn, with very slight changes between seasons. In the study area, density and activity patterns were associated with anthropogenic perturbation and prey availability. Bobcats increased their population density in the dry season, and showed a preference for activity at night and early morning hours when it is cooler and there are likely fewer competitors but more prey. Across its range, bobcat density was mainly related to annual precipitation and mean temperature of the driest quarter at 100 km radius buffers, and between annual precipitation and longitude on a smaller scale (50 km radius buffers). These findings support their preference for the arid or mesic environments that enabled them to reach southern areas of the Neartic region.

Habitat connectivity and resource selection in an expanding bobcat (Lynx rufus) population.

Terrestrial carnivores are among the most imperiled species worldwide, yet some species are resilient and are recovering in human-dominated landscapes after decades or centuries of absence. Bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations were extirpated from much of Midwestern US in the mid-1800’s, and are currently expanding and recolonizing their former range. In this study, we investigated multi-scale habitat selection for Ohio’s expanding bobcat population, and examined habitat connectivity in order to evaluate the conduits for dispersal statewide. We used citizen observations collected between 1978 and 2019 and logistic regression to evaluate population-level habitat selection, and GPS telemetry data for 20 individuals collected between 2012 and 2014 and a distribution-weighted exponential Resource Selection Function to evaluate individual-level habitat selection within home ranges. At the population level, bobcats selected for higher amounts of forest and pasture (at a 50 km2 scale) and herbaceous vegetation (at 15–50 50 km2 scales), thus overall heterogeneous forested habitat. At individual (home range) level, bobcats selected for forested habitats with low road density and farther away from high traffic roads; they also showed weak selection for open habitat at the home range level. Male home ranges were significantly greater than female home ranges. Lastly, we used the population-level spatial outputs (i.e. habitat suitability map) to parameterize habitat connectivity models using circuit theory in the program Circuitscape. We tested three relationships between habitat suitability and resistance to movement and used a subset of data on potential dispersing individuals to evaluate which relationship performed best. All three relationships performed almost equally well, and we calculated a weighted averaged connectivity map as our final map. Habitat was highly permeable to movements between core areas of two genetically distinct subpopulations located in southeastern Ohio. We also identified potential dispersal corridors from the core areas to other regions of Ohio dominated by agriculture and suburban development via forested riparian corridors. Overall, our analysis offers new information on habitat selection and connectivity in a rebounding felid population and offers important ecological information for wildlife management strategies. We recommend that the suitability and connectivity models should be periodically updated until the population reaches an equilibrium, and be integrated with data from neighboring states for a comprehensive assessment of a conservation success story.

Sometimes I see spots: patterns of abundance and distribution of the bobcat (Lynx rufus) in different regions of México

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are distributed throughout North America, but bobcat densities have been well-documented primarily only for the United States. The highest known density of this species is in the southern United States, and from there their density decreases northward to southern Canada. Despite the fact thatMéxico contains about 35 % of the species range, there are no data on their abundance or density in México. The objectives of this study were to document the density of bobcats from northwestern to southern México and to understand the abundance patterns of this species. Camera traps were used in combination with capture-recapture models to estimate densities. Using the MaxEnt ecological niche model, the potential distribution of the bobcat was obtained. With an effort of 2,070 camera trap days, we obtained 41 bobcat photographs in five localities from 2005 to 2007. Our estimated bobcat densities varied from 0.05 to 0.53 bobcat/km2. Using MaxEnt, we estimated the available habitat in each site and extrapolated the density data to obtain a range of bobcat population estimates per site. The areas estimated were between 1,861 to 16,663 km2, with a population from 592 to 2,161 bobcats. Bobcat density in México is highest in the north and decreases to the south of its range. Probably the optimal habitat for this species is found in the southern United States and northern México where the highest densities of its entire distribution occur.

Bobcat Hair Cortisol Correlates with Land Use and Climate

ABSTRACTBobcats (Lynx rufus) have been increasing in abundance in the northeast United States despite a corresponding trend of increased anthropogenic land uses. Inhabiting areas of high human land use can affect stress levels, and hence cortisol titers, for wildlife species by increasing frequency of human interaction and altering habitats. In turn, increased cortisol levels can have negative effects at the individual and population level including decreased immune function, slowed growth and tissue repair, reduced reproductive capacity, and nutritional deficiencies. We quantified cortisol in bobcats across New Hampshire and Vermont, USA, using hair samples, then explored associations between hair cortisol and various organismal, land use, land cover, and climatic variables at 2 different spatial scales. Hair cortisol differed by season and bobcat mass. On average, cortisol levels were higher in fall than in spring, and larger bobcats had lower cortisol levels. Anthropogenic land uses—especially residential and agricultural uses—were the most important predictors of hair cortisol at the town scale ( area = 93 km2). At a larger scale (Wildlife Management Units; area = 1,256 km2), temperature and precipitation were better predictors of hair cortisol, suggesting that extreme weather may have significant effects on bobcat population dynamics. Our results highlight the importance of landscape composition and local conditions in the sustainable management of furbearer populations. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.

Demographic changes and loss of genetic diversity in two insular populations of bobcats (Lynx rufus)

Among felids worldwide, only 6 of 38 species have stable or increasing populations, and most felid species are threatened by anthropogenic influences, especially habitat loss and fragmentation. We documented changes in genetic diversity in an isolated, reintroduced population of bobcats on Cumberland Island (CUIS), Georgia, USA, compared to another bobcat population on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA, that was naturally established and experiences limited immigration from the mainland. The CUIS population declined from 32 reintroduced bobcats in 1989 to 10–24 individuals during 2012–2019, and observed heterozygosity declined from 0.742 to 0.634 (SD = 0.240). Observed heterozygosity of bobcats on Kiawah was 0.699 (SD = 0.153). We estimated that one bobcat immigrated to Kiawah Island every 5.3 years. We compared the predictions of a novel population viability analysis (PVA) to empirical estimates of abundance and genetic diversity on CUIS and used our PVA to identify management actions that are likely to support long-term viability. Mean heterozygosity from the PVA (0.588, SD = 0.065) was within 1 standard deviation of the empirical estimate. The PVA estimated the population would decline following population restoration due to loss of genetic diversity and inbreeding depression. Translocations of one female every four years would stabilize allele heterozygosity similar to the Kiawah Island population, but even translocations of two females every two years would not restore heterozygosity to founder levels. The PVA predicted no management action would result in a one in five probability of extinction within 50 years of reintroduction, but all translocation strategies nearly eliminated extinction risk through 100 years.

Survival and Mortality Sources in a Recovering Population of Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in South-central Indiana

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations have increased in the midwestern U.S. since the 1980s after substantial declines and local extirpations into the mid-1900s. We monitored 38 radio-collared bobcats (25 males, 13 females) from 1998 to 2006 in a recovering population in south-central Indiana to investigate survival and mortality causes. Annual survival was high (Ŝ = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.71–0.89), comparable to results from other studies of bobcats in unexploited populations and higher than in harvested populations. Of 17 known deaths, vehicle collisions were the largest source of mortality (n = 9; 53%), followed by illegal shootings (n = 3; 18%). Higher values of habitat heterogeneity within home ranges were associated with lower risk of mortality. Estimates of survival and mortality sources in recovering populations provide an important context to compare management strategies to improve bobcat conservation.

Survival and Mortality Sources in a Recovering Population of Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in South-central Indiana

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations have increased in the midwestern U.S. since the 1980s after substantial declines and local extirpations into the mid-1900s. We monitored 38 radio-collared bobcats (25 males, 13 females) from 1998 to 2006 in a recovering population in south-central Indiana to investigate survival and mortality causes. Annual survival was high (Ŝ = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.71–0.89), comparable to results from other studies of bobcats in unexploited populations and higher than in harvested populations. Of 17 known deaths, vehicle collisions were the largest source of mortality (n = 9; 53%), followed by illegal shootings (n = 3; 18%). Higher values of habitat heterogeneity within home ranges were associated with lower risk of mortality. Estimates of survival and mortality sources in recovering populations provide an important context to compare management strategies to improve bobcat conservation.

Density of wild felids in Sonora, Mexico: a comparison of spatially explicit capture-recapture methods

Estimates of population density are crucial for wild felid conservation and are commonly conducted using camera trapping. Spatially explicit capture-recapture (SCR) survey designs often use two cameras per station to photograph both flanks of a spotted felid to confirm identities. However, if the sampling grid is inadequate, and detector devices are unable to capture an animal’s complete movements, density may be overestimated. Density analyses incorporating identification inputs from both flanks derived from unpaired camera stations may offer a cost-effective solution by doubling the number of stations available to researchers. During 2008, we surveyed 164 sites for jaguars, ocelots, and bobcats using unpaired camera stations (mean trap nights per camera = 32.66, inter-trap distance = 800 m) on private ranching lands in Sonora, Mexico. We obtained 15, 52, and 229 detections of jaguars, ocelots, and bobcats from 9, 35, and 87 stations, respectively. SCR density estimates (individuals/100 km2) derived from a maximum likelihood multi-session model and a Bayesian spatial partial identity model (SPIM) were similar: 4.61 and 1.54 (jaguar), 4.66 and 4.33 (ocelot), and 15.22 and 15.88 (bobcat), respectively. Due to insufficient recaptures of jaguars, only SPIM provided a credible estimate of jaguar density. Jaguar density was one of the lowest reported across their distribution, which was expected given Sonora’s location at the periphery of the jaguar’s range. However, ocelot and bobcat populations appear to be healthy in Sonora, even within unprotected ranchlands. We recommend the use of SPIM to estimate the density of spotted felids with any dataset containing few recaptures in unpaired camera surveys.

Does the virus cross the road? Viral phylogeographic patterns among bobcat populations reflect a history of urban development.

Urban development has major impacts on connectivity among wildlife populations and is thus likely an important factor shaping pathogen transmission in wildlife. However, most investigations of wildlife diseases in urban areas focus on prevalence and infection risk rather than potential effects of urbanization on transmission itself. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a directly transmitted retrovirus that infects many felid species and can be used as a model for studying pathogen transmission at landscape scales. We investigated phylogenetic relationships among FIV isolates sampled from five bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations in coastal southern California that appear isolated due to major highways and dense urban development. Divergence dates among FIV phylogenetic lineages in several cases reflected historical urban growth and construction of major highways. We found strong FIV phylogeographic structure among three host populations north‐west of Los Angeles, largely coincident with host genetic structure. In contrast, relatively little FIV phylogeographic structure existed among two genetically distinct host populations south‐east of Los Angeles. Rates of FIV transfer among host populations did not vary significantly, with the lack of phylogenetic structure south‐east of Los Angeles unlikely to reflect frequent contemporary transmission among populations. Our results indicate that major barriers to host gene flow can also act as barriers to pathogen spread, suggesting potentially reduced susceptibility of fragmented populations to novel directly transmitted pathogens. Infrequent exchange of FIV among host populations suggests that populations would best be managed as distinct units in the event of a severe disease outbreak. Phylogeographic inference of pathogen transmission is useful for estimating the ability of geographic barriers to constrain disease spread and can provide insights into contemporary and historical drivers of host population connectivity.

Extirpated, immigrated, genetically stratified—first demographic assessment of a recovering bobcat (Lynx rufus) population after a century of extinction

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a widespread mesocarnivore that declined in the USA as immigration and settlement proceeded. It was considered extirpated in Ohio (OH) around 1850, and generally extinct for a century. Listed as state-endangered in 1974, verified reports increased in the 1990s. Population clusters developed in 2 areas of OH, and genetically stratified. The eastern population increased more rapidly, and the southern was part of a multistate population including West Virginia (WV) and Kentucky (KY). To investigate the recovering bobcat’s population ecology, the State of OH collected carcasses of bobcats who died mostly from vehicle collision while state-listed. We processed specimens for demographic data, and supplemented the southern sample with western WV and eastern KY harvest data given genetic relatedness. We applied a vertical life table framework interpreting our population cross-section as a recovery period. We estimated age structure, fecundity, and population status of eastern OH bobcats, and compared fecundity between areas. Life-table analyses indicated an eastern OH population hovering around zero growth. Juvenile females contained most reproductive value, and most males died as young adults. Fecundity in eastern OH surpassed that of the multistate population overall where comparable. Fecundity increased through several years of life as bobcats matured. Our results suggest, after a rapid recovery of eastern OH bobcats, population growth slowed as they began to saturate their environment. OH delisted bobcats in 2014 and proposed a harvest season in 2018. With loosening regulation, we recommend more robust sampling for improved population modeling after expansion of the recovered population’s range.

Investigating uneven recovery of repatriated bobcats (Lynx rufus) in a mined landscape: space use, habitat use and condition in coal country

Abstract ContextBobcats (Lynx rufus) were extirpated from Ohio, USA, during the mid-1800s. Genetic evidence indicates that they recolonised from neighbouring states. Initial re-establishment occurred almost simultaneously in two spatially distinct areas of a coal-mined landscape in the 1980s. Relative population growth was apparently higher in the eastern than in the southern area. AimsUnderstanding the reasons for the disparity in population dynamics and sustainability is essential for proper bobcat management. It also addresses substantial knowledge gaps in vertebrate carnivore ecology on mined land. We hypothesised that the characteristics of mined land in the eastern Ohio area provided bobcats with greater resources, enabling a more rapid recovery. MethodsWe trapped bobcats and took body measurements and weights to determine condition indices. We attached GPS radio-collars and used locations to determine annual home-range and core-area sizes, home-range and core-area overlap, and habitat selection using remotely sensed land cover data and mine permit records. We compared factors between the two bobcat population areas. Key resultsBody condition indices were higher, and home ranges and core areas of males and females were smaller, for eastern Ohio bobcats. Home-range overlap did not differ for any dyad type. Selection of mined land by habitat type differed at the home-range level, with eastern bobcats selecting more mined habitats and southern bobcats showing an opposite tendency. ConclusionsAn interaction may exist between landscape features of former surface mines and bobcat recovery. Results suggest more favourable habitat conditions in the eastern area, which featured more mined land and more older, less regulated mines, than in the southern area. These conditions may support a higher bobcat reproductive success. ImplicationsThe first bobcat harvest season in Ohio is under development by authorities. We recommend the regulation of eastern and southern Ohio as separate bobcat management units; the southern population should remain protected, and the eastern population should be managed conservatively as a source population to further colonise southern Ohio. Our data suggest that surface-mined land can be conducive to the restoration and conservation of species.

Urbanization reduces genetic connectivity in bobcats (Lynx rufus) at both intra- and interpopulation spatial scales.

Urbanization is a major factor driving habitat fragmentation and connectivity loss in wildlife. However, the impacts of urbanization on connectivity can vary among species and even populations due to differences in local landscape characteristics, and our ability to detect these relationships may depend on the spatial scale at which they are measured. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are relatively sensitive to urbanization and the status of bobcat populations is an important indicator of connectivity in urban coastal southern California. We genotyped 271 bobcats at 13,520 SNP loci to conduct a replicated landscape resistance analysis in five genetically distinct populations. We tested urban and natural factors potentially influencing individual connectivity in each population separately, as well as study-wide. Overall, landscape genomic effects were most frequently detected at the study-wide spatial scale, with urban land cover (measured as impervious surface) having negative effects and topographic roughness having positive effects on gene flow. The negative effect of urban land cover on connectivity was also evident when populations were analyzed separately despite varying substantially in spatial area and the proportion of urban development, confirming a pervasive impact of urbanization largely independent of spatial scale. The effect of urban development was strongest in one population where stream habitat had been lost to development, suggesting that riparian corridors may help mitigate reduced connectivity in urbanizing areas. Our results demonstrate the importance of replicating landscape genetic analyses across populations and considering how landscape genetic effects may vary with spatial scale and local landscape structure.

Roadkill and space use data predict vehicle-strike hotspots and mortality rates in a recovering bobcat (Lynx rufus) population

Roadways pose challenges for conserving wide-ranging animal species. As bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations recover in Ohio, an accurate evaluation of population metrics is critical to understanding future population trajectories. In this study, we integrated multiple datasets to examine overall road mortality rates in Ohio. First, we utilized a long-term vehicle-strike dataset (1978–2017) to determine landscape and local predictors of road mortality. We found that bobcats were killed at higher rates on interstates regardless of surrounding landscape composition, but that landscape variables were useful at predicting mortality on lower-traffic roads. To explore road avoidance behaviors, we used GPS telemetry data from 18 individuals to compare road crossings along trajectory paths with random road crossings simulated using Correlated Random Walks. Bobcats exhibited avoidance of certain route types (county, municipal, and US routes). Finally, by integrating traffic volume data, road crossing behavior, and accounting for the proportion of each route type present in the study area, we estimated that a minimum of 6% and up to 18% of the bobcat population in Ohio is lost to vehicle-strikes annually. To fully understand the population level impacts of this mortality, we recommend further monitoring of age structure and sex of roadkill animals. Our results identify potential areas for mitigation of vehicle-strikes and emphasize the importance of accounting for road mortality when making management decisions for Ohio’s recovering bobcat population.