Wisconsin Man Attacked By Bobcat: How Many Are There In Illinois?

There are certain animals, regardless of how beautiful they may be, that you just know an up-close-and-personal encounter with them is not going to be a good thing.

A 19-year-old Wisconsin hunter got a firsthand reminder this week that while the Midwest’s wildlife is often beautiful, there's a reason we call it wild-life

This guy was out turkey hunting near Nekoosa, and he was imitating turkey calls to lure the birds in. But instead of a gobbler answering, something else took notice. A bobcat quietly stalked him from behind, then suddenly lunged, grabbing his arm before he was able to fight it off. Thankfully, he escaped with relatively minor injuries.

Here, take a look:

Bobcat Encounters In Illinois And Wisconsin Are Rare, But They Do Happen

Wildlife experts say bobcats can be attracted to turkey calls, since turkeys are part of their natural prey. Still, attacks on humans are extremely uncommon, which is part of why this story has grabbed so much attention.

Here’s the thing: there are more bobcats around us than many people realize.

In Illinois, recent research estimates the bobcat population at over 23,000 animals, a remarkable rebound for a species that was once nearly gone from the state. Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s population is smaller but steadily growing, generally estimated in the range of roughly 2,800 to 3,500 animals, with numbers increasing over the past few decades.

In other words, these elusive cats aren’t just deep-woods residents anymore. They’re quietly reclaiming territory across both states, often living closer to people than we think.

There's No Need To Be Afraid To Be Where Bobcats May Also Be Hanging Around, Just Be Observant

Bobcats, like most wild animals, prefer to avoid humans. But they are opportunistic predators. If you sound like prey or act like prey you might get their attention. Most of the time, they’ll slip away unseen. Occasionally, as this Wisconsin hunter learned, they might investigate a little closer than you’d like.

If the idea of lots of bobcats roaming around bothers you, then you should definitely stay out of Texas. Texas has the largest bobcat population in the US, with estimates suggesting that there are around 250,000 bobcats in the Lone Star State.