The Effects of the 118-Freeway on Bobcat Movement Patterns in the Moorpark Area

Lead Biologist: Justin Brown, M.S. [Justin_L_Brown (at) NPS.gov]
Project Duration: 2010-present
Lead Agency: National Park Service
Collaborating Agencies: University of California, Davis; Colorado State University; UCLA
Funding Source: CalTrans

Project Overview and Goals:  This project is funded by CalTrans in an effort to learn how the 118-Freeway affects bobcat movement patterns and mortality prior to freeway expansion and remediation efforts.  Additionally, to aid in future remediation efforts, CalTrans has sponsored this project in order to learn where bobcats are crossing the 118-Freeway to learn where movement corridors will best be placed.  Accordingly, a principle objective is to capture and radio-collar bobcats with radio-collars equipped with GPS-technology to document detailed movement patterns.  Remote cameras have also been placed near what we biologists expect might constitute natural freeway crossing points (ie., creek bed undercrossings) as an additional measure of bobcat population size estimates and movements across the 118-freeway.  Approximately 10 bobcats are being radio-collared and tracked as part of this research.  Blood and tissue samples collected during captures contribute to the graduate student research on disease susceptibility described in the UCLA bobcat disease susceptibility study project.