Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife officials safely released a male juvenile bobcat into the wild last week. Based on its teeth, the bobcat was at least six months old; it was released on BLM land in Lane County.
ODFW’s evaluation of the bobcat showed it to be healthy. It had no signs of active infection or injury.
It is not known if two bobcats found earlier in the week at Oak Hill School were orphaned, abandoned by their mother, or naturally dispersing. Young bobcats may start to disperse away from their mother as early as six months old, so a bobcat born early in the spring could naturally disperse in the fall.
Changes for Columbia fishing: Oregon and Washington fisheries managers have reopened the mainstem Columbia to retention of coho salmon through Oct. 31, from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upstream to The Dalles Dam. The daily adult bag limit is two coho.
Only hatchery coho may be retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge. All steelhead and all salmon except coho must be released. All other permanent regulations remain in effect, including retention rules for coho jacks.
Also
Hunting seasons are in full swing and the recent cold, wet weather should improve many hunts. General season coast buck and Cascade buck are open; the cool, wet weather should have bucks moving around more. Cold and wet are preferred conditions for duck hunting, which is open statewide. Goose hunters also can plan to spend a day in the field this weekend. Upland bird seasons – pheasant, quail, forest grouse, chukar and partridge – are open across the state. The number of grouse tails and wings being deposited in westside collection barrels suggest a strong season is underway.
