Pennsylvania wild cats

Pennsylvania wild cats by Henry W. Shoemaker is a regional natural history and conservation tract written in the early 20th century. The book argues for protecting Pennsylvania’s wild felines, outlining what they are, where they live, how they behave, and why they matter ecologically.

It opens by challenging bounty laws and explaining the cats’ value as controllers of rabbits and rodents and as forest scavengers. The text then clarifies common misnamings, distinguishing the true wild cat (the bobcat, Lynx rufus) from the rarer “big grey” Canada lynx, and correcting earlier confusion with panther cubs. Detailed chapters describe the bobcat’s size, breeding, prey, color variation, and shrinking range; recount notable Canada lynx specimens and suggest it is likely gone from the state; note a local “Blue Mountain” form; and speculate on hybrids and feral cats. The hunting section portrays dog-driven chases, contrasts sport with indiscriminate trapping, reports pelt values, and argues that cats seldom harm deer or game birds, supporting this with preserve observations and statewide bounty statistics that show rapid decline. The book closes with vivid profiles of famed hunters, lists of encounters, folk names, brief notes on keeping cats in captivity, and a final plea to give wild cats another chance.