300th bobcat captured and released in Santa Monica Mountains study

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A nearly two-decade-old study of bobcats in the Santa Monica Mountains marked a milestone with the capture and release of its 300th cat, National Park Service officials announced Wednesday.

Called the longest running bobcat study ever, the research looks at the behavior, ecology and conservation of bobcats and how urbanization has affected the animals in the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills, the National Park Service said. The study, which began in 1996, is ongoing.

Biologists take measurements and blood and tissue samples from captured cats before attaching radio collars to their necks and releasing them back into the wild, officials said. They also use remote cameras and scat surveys to collect information.

The 300th bobcat was captured and released last month, said Kate Kuykendall, a spokeswoman for the park service. Most of the animals studied were captured in Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Agoura Hills.

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