Dave Arendt with his state — and perhaps North American — record bobcat. |
No Internet foolishness, biggest bobcat bagged in Langlade County Feb. 4, 2009 Sometimes truth is more awesome than fiction.
Weeks after a fake photo of a mountain lion supposedly shot near Pelican Lake surfaced on the Internet, retired conservation warden Dave Arendt of Antigo captured a monster version of a different feline—a state and perhaps North American-record bobcat weighing 52 pounds.
Today, the remains of that animal are being studied and verification of a new record could come soon.
Time was growing very short for Arendt, an avid bobcat hunter, and it was the last day of the season, Dec. 31.
“I had been chasing a big one up in Marinette County that was the biggest paw print I had ever seen,” Arendt said. “This was just a chance occurrence.”
The cat’s track was already 18 hours old when Arendt, on a hunt organized by Andy Dryja, found it. It measured 3 1/2 inches and the stride was huge, Arendt said, comparable to a small cougar.
The bobcat led the hunters on a lengthy chase, complicated by crossing trails with other cats and a coyote. Eventually, the group came close enough to their quarry to release the trailing hounds.
The animal was treed and dispatched shortly thereafter.
A male, the 52-pound bobcat eclipsed the Wisconsin verified record of a 48.84 pound cat killed in Marinette County in 1984.
In comparison, the largest verified cat taken in Minnesota weighed 38.72 pounds.
“One over 40 pounds is the rare thing,” Arendt said. “Bobcat hunters are always looking for those.”
To date, no record of a verified cat that is larger has been foundacross North America, meaning that the bobcat might find immortality in the record books.
Arendt said the cat has already been placed on the Wisconsin record list, but it will take more studies before it is certified as a national record animal.
Parts of the animal have been sent for DNA analysis to a lab in Montana, the stomach contents are being analyzed to determine diet and a tooth has been extracted for aging. Top researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point have the rest of the carcass for study.
Arendt has saved the pelt, which is being turned into a truly one-of-a-kind wall hanging by Fittante Taxidermy.
While bobcats are rarely seen, it is because of their habits—nocturnal and partial to the nasty and thickest swamps and brushlands—rather than numbers.
“It’s kind of neat to know our county has enough wild area to support something like these animals,” Arendt said.
Like bears, the Department of Natural Resources issues a certain number of kill tags annually—540 in 2008—to assure a healthy population is maintained.
“They are very well-protected.” Arendt stressed.
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