The Bobcats in Pennsylvania Are Turning Into Something Bigger — And Nobody Knows Why

Pennsylvania's bobcats were once hunted for a bounty, then left alone for nearly 30 years. Today the state has a recovered population, an open hunting and trapping season, and a lot of people asking the same question: how big can a bobcat really get? Adult bobcats in Pennsylvania typically weigh 18 to 24 pounds, with large males reaching about 35. Every few years, a trapper or hunter brings in one that goes past that range. Is it a sign of a changing animal, or just what a recovered, heavily harvested population looks like? Bobcats are solitary, secretive and mostly active at dawn and dusk, which is why so many people see one and doubt their own eyes. The science on their size is thinner than most people think. Do you live in bobcat country? Tell us your county in the comments, and share the biggest bobcat you've ever seen, trapped or photographed. #bobcat #Pennsylvania #wildlife #PAwildlife #furbearers #trailcam