RETIREE CRYING FOWL AFTER BOBCATS EAT CHICKENS, DUCKS

UNION COUNTY, Ill. -- The big cat growled, looking out warily from his cage.

Those who ventured close enough dodged an occasional swipe from powerful claws. It was clear that this 40-pound, Southern Illinois bobcat didn't like his predicament.

But, trapped by Larry Burnett near his home in rural Union County, the ferocious feline was soon to be set free.

The bobcat growled again as Burnett used a pitchfork to carefully lift the cage from his pickup and lower it to the frozen ground. Using a pair of pliers, Burnett gingerly unlocked the cage, and his unwelcome guest backed out of the trap, shot a parting glance and bounded into thick underbrush near the Union County Wildlife Refuge lake on Friday.

He was gone.

Bobcats are on the protected list in Illinois, meaning they end up at wildlife refuges instead of stuffed and mounted above fireplaces. Under Illinois law, Burnett was required to trap the animal alive and release it into an accepted environment.

"These bobcats have been snatching my chickens, ducks and pigeons," said Burnett.

He has found four bobcats near his home this year, two of them over the past two weeks. Burnett said he has also spotted additional tracks near his home.

Bobcats are only one kind of wild animal affected by the intense December cold that isn't expected to let up soon.

Friday's bobcat release was his third at the Union County refuge this year for Burnett, but wildlife experts say he could be making the trip again.

"There are more bobcats in Illinois than a person would think," said Carol Knowles of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

She said bobcats normally shy away from populated areas, but snow and ice and reduced habitat are forcing them out of the wild to look for prey, typically rabbits, squirrels, mice and birds.

The home range of bobcats, which usually weigh 25 to 35 pounds, is a couple of miles, but they have been known to wander as far as 25 to 50 miles.

Burnett, who is retired, raises chickens, ducks and pigeons and has lost about 100 birds to the predators this year. The state takes no responsibility for such incidents.

Burnett had planned on releasing the first bobcat he captured a couple of weeks ago in another area, but the Illinois DNR said to release it in the wildlife refuge.

"I had to purchase my own trap," Burnett said.

Shivering armadillos

Meanwhile, severe cold weather is taking its toll on a Missouri animal, the nine-banded armadillo, which loves warm weather.

"This weather will knock them back to the south," said Gene Meyer of the Missouri Department of Conservation's regional office. "We've been seeing more of them the past few years because of the mild winters we've had. But the winter this year may put a dent into the population."

Missouri is about as far north as the armadillos will venture, say conservation officials.

"Armadillos can't see well, they're not aggressive, and severe wintry conditions are too harsh for them," said Meyer.

The first armadillos were sighted in Missouri in the mid-1970s, Today, as many as 200 armadillos may be in the Southeast Missouri area.

"We get calls all the time reporting the animals," said Meyer.

The armadillo has strong claws, which it uses to dig tunnels in the ground and to scratch around for insects. They aren't vicious and instead curl themselves into a hard, tight balls with the shell on the outside and the head and feet tucked out of harm's way.

Scientists today are studying the northerly expansion of the armadillo from the Rio Grande River Valley in southern Texas.