This bobcat was one of our patients from early summer 2022. She was found alone on the train tracks near the community of Strathcona Park here in Calgary, with no other bobcats around; it was suspected she had been orphaned and was immediately brought to Calgary Wildlife.
This bobcat kit came to us with her ears and eyes already open and her first baby teeth coming in. Upon her intake exam, nothing notable was found and she appeared to have been recently separated from her family due to her levels of hydration.
Our team was well aware this baby's best chance would be with her mom, so our wildlife team went out to search for the den. Amazingly, we were able to locate the mother bobcat and her den and tried very had for three days to reunite the pair. Sadly, after 72 hours and no luck attempting to reunite mom and baby, we took her back to our centre to provide the her with the care she needed.
After three months in care and moving up in enclosure size while growing up, she was ready to go into our big outdoor enclosure to acclimate fully and make sure she had room to properly develop her hunting abilities.
Within the bobcat's enclosure, we provided lots of climbing posts to strengthen her climbing skills and a hammock placed up high for a comfy resting spot. A pool of running water was also offered over the summer season to keep her cool and refreshed. Various hiding spots were placed inside her enclosure; these kept her shielded from the elements and gave her some choice when it came time to hide away.
Nutritionally our team changed up the bobcat's diet frequently to maintain her interest, changing her prey regularly from fish to deer to rabbits. She also received a taurine supplement regularly, often used with big cats.
Did You Know?
- Bobcats can run up to 48km/h
- The name bobcat comes from the stubby tails they wear
- Adult bobcats can bring down prey weighing up to 250 pounds, more than 7 times their body weight!
- Bobcats can swim; these cats don't mind getting their paws wet for a snack if need be
- Bobcats are a part of the same subfamily as cheetahs.
- During mating season, bobcats let out a scream known as a "caterwaul" that can be heard
as far as 1.5 kilometres away
- Bobcats can lay claim to an area from 2 to 46 square kilometres
After 203 days in our care, she was soft released in an area where she'd continue
to be able to be monitored post release to ensure her success in the wild.
Photos courtesy of CEI