Fishers reader calls on Governor Braun to halt expanded bobcat hunting

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Dear Editor:

At the May 19 public hearing on Indiana’s proposal to allow 400 bobcats to be trapped and trophy hunted each year (a 60 percent increase from last year), the message from residents was crystal clear. Of all the speakers, nearly 90 percent opposed the proposal.

What other issues these days have that much united opposition from Hoosiers?

Landowners described how bobcats safeguard their property by keeping rodent populations in check. Wildlife experts cautioned that such aggressive quotas could actually eliminate bobcats from the state within a decade. Residents shared their hope that future generations might still encounter Indiana’s only native wildcat in the wild.

The hearing’s overwhelming opposition reflects broader public sentiment: statewide polling shows roughly seven in 10 Hoosiers are against recreational bobcat trapping. Despite this, state officials appear determined to prioritize the interests of a tiny fraction of the population over scientific evidence and the public’s voice.

Governor Braun could halt this misguided expansion. Hoosiers have made their position unmistakable; it’s time their leaders listened.

Brian Sherer
Fishers