Is unreliable science guiding bobcat management in Wyoming and other western U.S. states?

Abstract Wildlife managers require defensible and transparent population estimates to justify species management. Statistical reconstruction (SPR) is being widely adopted estimate wildlife sizes from hunter harvest data. We assessed factors influencing variation in SPR produced for bobcats Wyoming, USA. Specifically, we tested whether prey availability, hunter/trapper effort, the number of killed or methods used classify age sex (‘classification protocol’) best explained changing abundance estimates. then quantified relative magnitude these effects on model outputs. Classification protocol had strongest impact estimates, such that a shift visual classifications by trappers/hunters resulted overestimates bobcat abundance. The Wyoming were likely unreliable suggest spatially explicit integrated models may be better approach obtaining upon which establish scientific management this charismatic carnivore.