Bobcats Return to the Driftless Area

"Bobcats Return to the Driftless Area" captures the desirable return of these elusive and charismatic wild cats to the large Midwest void that included the Driftless Area of primarily southwestern Wisconsin. To those early European settlers, bobcats were viewed as vermin that made homestead life more difficult by killing free-ranging chickens. Through habitat change, direct persecution, and the incentive of bounty payments, bobcats were eliminated from a large area. The Driftless Area, with its rocky crags, brushy habitat, and rabbit population, seemed ideal for bobcats. After gaining protected status, they began slowly reoccupying the area coming both from the north and the south. For the past four years, one mama bobcat has been doing her part to reestablish their population in the area. She has brought her annual litter of kittens around every summer to Al and Sally Cornell's rural home location. Part 1 of the book introduces bobcat ecology and the story of their return. Part 2 is a pictorial story of that diligent mother bobcat and her entertaining kittens that helped fill the void. From those pictures and photo captions, readers will get an entertaining view of these adorable wild animals. Welcome back bobcat.