Local resident Tom O'Key, who initiated and was critical to the success of the statewide campaign against bobcat trapping several years ago (see MBCA News Update "End of Bobcat Trapping") has been a key part of a followup effort to end all fur trapping in California. That campaign was successful and Tom is quoted several times in this LA Times article describing the Governor's signing of this first-in-America bill.

August 5, 2015 - a Red-Letter Day!   MBCA along with thousands of supporters are celebrating the California Fish and Game Commission's vote to enact a statewide ban on bobcat trapping.  Many MBCA supporters wrote letters and the number of letters in support of the statewide ban was over 25,000, which certainly helped sway the vote.  Thank you! 

On July 16, 2015, MBCA sent the Commission a formal comment letter in support of Option 2 (statewide trapping ban) over Option 1, noting that if the Commission doesn't support a ban, they must add dozens of bobcat trapping buffer zones in protected areas around the state. 

On July 8, 2015, Project Bobcat issued an Action Alert asking supporters to send one more round of letters in support of a statewide ban on bobcat trapping. Additional evidence of support for a ban is needed because of an unexpected change in the membership of the Commission; two of the ban supporters have been replaced! Please help by reading the Action Alert and acting on the request for comments if you can - by Friday, July 31, at Noon.

Project Bobcat began in Summer 2013. This local citizens' group sought to legislatively end the trapping of these iconic and treasured animals around Joshua Tree National Park. MBCA sent a letter of support to the Governor in September 2013. Those early efforts not only resulted in bobcat protection legislation, but continuing efforts in 2014 and 2015 expanded to pursue a total statewide ban on bobcat trapping.  MBCA Director Pat Flanagan's January 2015 letter on this issue, on behalf of all desert communities, explains the issues and goals for this ongoing campaign. In a subsequent letter about the bobcat trapping issue, sent June 8, 2015, MBCA supported a statewide ban on bobcat trapping.