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Bobcat recovering from concussion at the Witter Wildlife Refuge.
Photo by Jeff Flatbush
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Words For Wildlife
by State licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, James Orr
THE BOBCAT EXPERIENCE
When I got home from out of town I had a message on my answering machine from a friend that he had found an injured Bobcat. My heart skipped a beat as I listened to his message asking for my help. As I started to imagine how I might handle one this fairly dangerous wildlife species the next message played saying they were going to take it to the veterinary clinic as it was unconscious and they could not reach me. I relaxed a little as my macho vision of handling a wild cat vanished with the answering machine beep.
It would have been interesting to work with a Bobcat but I must admit I was a little relieved at not having to wrestle with a powerful sharp clawed beast. As the rest of the messages played out the last one was from the Veterinary Clinic asking if I would come pick up a Bobcat as soon as possible. “The game is afoot” as Sherlock Holme used to say.
I arrived at the Veterinarian Clinic with all my glamourous tools of the rehabilitation trade. I had my heavy duty elbow length gloves, my Kevlar arm guards, even a catch pole in the event things got dicey. The excitement was to come later. The Doctor explained the Bobcat had been virtually unconscious for the past 24 hours. It had just started to come around a few hours ago and they where glad I was ther to take it off their hands.
I was led to it’s cage and eased up on the adrenaline as I saw the poor thing laying on its side, barely able to lift its head up. It had apparently been hit buy a car and had all the signs of a severe concussion but no broken bones or other apparent injuries. This type of injury often results in swelling around the brain and/or spinal area. The swelling restricts transmission of signals to and from the brain resulting in anything from paralysis to blindness.
Steroids are injected to reduce swelling in the hope functions return, but they can only be administered for a few days before the steroids start to cause adverse effects to the bodies organs. The Bobcat had already had a very heavy dose with minimal effect. I wondered how much help only two more days of steroids might offer such a distraught animal.
I put on my gloves and loaded the cat in a large travel cage with little resistance other than a guttural growl. I was amazed at how heavy the cat was for its size. It was obvious it had a lot more muscle and bone weight than the average cat.
The second day I was faced with the task of injecting the steroids into a caged, cornered and very awake Bobcat. I soon realized the protective gloves where too heavy to operate the syringe so at least one hand would have to work unprotected. I pondered which hand I might best afford to loose. I held the cat’s neck with the gloved hand and injected the medicine with the sacrificial hand. The cat tensed and growled but did not resist. I sweated.
The third day was a little more hair-raising as the Bobcat was now standing, and turning at will. It was still dazed but very capable of inflicting great pain if so desired. The growl was deeper and considerably more expressive and I was glad this was to be the last day I had to gamble with a naked hand.
The forth day the Bobcat was ready to go into an outside pen which would give it an area to regain its running, climbing and general feline balancing skills.
The plan was simple, place the travel cage in the large outdoor cage, stand behind the little cage as close to the exit door as possible, reach over the top, release the cat, exit the big cage quickly and close the door. It did not work out quite as planned, Does it ever?. We got the travel cage into the big cage without incident. I found my place near the exit and behind the release cage as planned. At the point the plan ceased to exist.
My brother, who was assisting was outside the cage. He informed me that I needed my gloves. “Not yet”, I said, I don’t need them until I get ready to open the door on the travel cage”. “You need them now!” he advised as I realized the back of the cats cage had fallen off and the cat was about six inched from me looking me unobstructed. :”Are you the guy that has been sticking me with that giant needled “ I imagined him saying. I turned to dive out of the cage only to find my thoughtful brother had slammed shut the door trapping me inside. “I need my gloves!” I shouted.
Long story short the Bobcat was not in a vindictive mood. I was able to get out of the cage while it simply watched with a musing smile. The cat exited his cage only after I was out of the way. Sometimes I forget most animals are as scared of us as we of them.
He has pretty much made a full recovery and will likely be ready to release back to the wild in the next week or two.
Bobcats are rarely seen as they are very secretive. Unlike most other cats they have no aversion to water often chasing prey into it or enjoying a cool swim. They primarily hunt small animals but are capable of taking down a deer. The males are considerably larger than the females and can approach the size of a small cougar. The females can be as small as a very large house cat, Bobcats have litters of two to four on average. Incidence of rabies is very low in this animal. They cause very few problems for people but may occasionally take a house pet. Cases of Bobcats killing sheep or other domestic livestock are very rare. The name “Bobcat” refers to its short “bobbed” tail.
DONATIONS NEEDED If you would like to help any donation amount it is greatly appreciated. Donations should be made out to Witter Wildlife Refuge and can be sent to P.O. Box 1118, Huntsville AR 72740.
See web page under "HOW YOU CAN HELP" for specific ways you can help us help wildlife
