In addition, the dramatic deforestation that peaked in the 1800s greatly reduced the habitat available to bobcats and many other wildlife species. Bobcats do not prefer mature forest but do flourish in areas with thick understory. In the 1970s, a large increase in the value of bobcat pelts raised concerns that they could be overharvested. At that time, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection reclassified the bobcat as a protected furbearer, with no hunting or trapping seasons. Conversely, housing and commercial development have decreased the amount of suitable habitat.
Bobcats are less adaptable to humans than other wildlife species, such as the coyote.
Compared to many wildlife species, bobcats rarely cause conflicts with human activities. Infrequently, they kill livestock, especially fowl, and attack domestic cats. Problems caused by bobcats are too infrequent to justify efforts to reduce populations. Conflicts should be addressed on an individual basis and can often be remedied by preventative methods such as fencing. Bobcat attacks on people are virtually unknown.