Kiawah Island's Bobcat Population Shows Signs of Recovery with Newborns
Biologists on Kiawah Island have discovered the first bobcat den of the 2026 season, marking a hopeful sign of recovery for the local bobcat population. The den contains two baby bobcats, a male and a female. This discovery follows a significant decline in the bobcat population from 2017 to 2020, attributed to the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. These poisons, commonly used in bait boxes, were linked to several bobcat deaths. In response, the town implemented the Bobcat Guardian Program in 2020, encouraging residents and businesses to cease using these rodenticides. The program aims to protect and restore the bobcat population on the island.