February 18 2019

Big Cat Updates

Alpha, one of the young rehab bobcats, hurt her front right leg so will be on meds and cage rest for a while.

The Volunteer Committee is pleased to announce the promotion of Lisa Spencer-Novak to Yellow Partner. Please join us in congratulating her on her Promotion.

BCR friend, Paula Drechsler, visited about two weeks ago. She left us a Which Wich Gift Card to buy lunch for everyone. We will be using that on Thursday as there are LOTS of projects to be done that day. THANK YOU, PAULA!! The volunteers will be tired and hungry so your gift will be GREATLY appreciated and enjoyed!!

Be sure to check out what Brittany Mira posts on Instagram.com/bigcatrescue tomorrow for “Take Over Tuesday!” She features photos of the cats from a different volunteer each Tuesday.

Alexa Flash Briefing

In case you have missed previous days’ news briefings you can find them all at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCPv8ivo6o4CZHFifkfRYDw

More AR Zoo Fun for YOU

Tiger Version – READY for Something REALLY COOL?

Download the VidPic AR app in the App Store or Google Play. It’s free, downloads fast, and doesn’t ask for your personal data. Then open the app, point your camera at this gorgeous big cat poster, and click the play button to see the cats leap off the page as they run, play, swim, eat and bathe. Hear their sounds, see them having fun!

Learn more at BigCatRescue.org/ar-zoo/

Call of the Wild – Phone2Action Update

Last week was a GREAT WEEK for Call of the wild.  THANK YOU, EVERYONE, who took the time to make the call for the cats.

Is your state listed below?  If not, how can we help you encourage your family and friends to make that phone call to save big cats and their babies from a life of abuse, neglect, and exploitation?

If you do not know what the Call of the Wild is or how it helps save big cats, please reach out to us.  We would be happy to chat you.

Coordinator Report – Lauren Buckingham

We had a great but very busy day today. Thank you to all the volunteers, interns, and staff that helped out with different aspects of the day.

Tanya and Bethany finish food prep before lunch.  Steph C, Fred, and Bridget worked on Hutch Serval’s enclosure, the two bubbles closest to Beacher.

With it being a holiday, PM tours were manic. We sent out 6 tours with 124 people. A huge thank you to Pam, Bridget, Michael, Barb, Susan Bass, Bethany, Candy, Denny, and the interns for doing them. They rocked it, some stepped up to help last minute and stayed a lot later than they had signed up for. This morning we only had 50 reservations so the extra volunteers allowed us to book 74 additional guests and bring in extra money for the cats!

Enrichment and cleaning sign-offs were done.

That’s it from me!
Exhausted and heading home 🙂

Thank you again to everyone for an awesome day, much appreciated!

Shy Bobcats Learning to Trust

Kewlona & Dryden Bobcat – Operant Session 1 with Keeper Brittany at Big Cat Rescue. Kewlona and Dryden are bobcat siblings that have been incredibly shy and elusive since their arrival. Not many Keepers or guests ever get to see them. We hope to gain their trust through operant conditioning but we know it will take a lot of patience and hard work. This was the first attempt by Keeper Brittany and a look at the long road ahead.

Big Cat Rescue’s Animal Training Program is based on operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behaviors are altered by the consequences that follow them. The behaviors are not forced, but “caught”, reinforced and therefore trained. We train only natural behaviors, no entertainment types of behaviors.

Operant Conditioning can:

Reduce the stress loads imposed by captivity
Enhance keeper safety
Facilitate routine vet care
Improve animal welfare
Enrich the animal and volunteer experience

Big Cat Rescue’s Operant Training Program is intended for:

Eliciting calm behavior from each of our animals while they are in the presence of their keepers and veterinary staff
Training behaviors that are dependable regardless of the trainer present
Providing mental stimulation for our animals
Enabling safe emergency and non-emergency transportation of the animals
Providing public education
http://bigcatrescue.org/operant-conditioning/

Could YOU Be the Next Big Cat Rescue Intern?

We offer two ways to intern. Internships are a minimum of 12 weeks and can progress for up to 2 years. Big Cat Rescue provides free intern housing for up to 15 interns. All interns have their own private bedrooms, access to local phone lines, wireless internet, access to a shared computer and shared bathroom, kitchen and T.V.

For even more detailed info go to http://bigcatrescue.org/get-involved/volunteer/intern/

Videos of the Day

Morning Q & A Walkabout at Big Cat Rescue 2/18/2019 – Q&A at Big Cat Rescue- Follow along as Keeper Brittany shows you many of the Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Jaguar, Cougars, Lynx, Servals, Bobcats, Savannah Cats and an Ocelot that Call Big Cat Rescue Home! Cats Featured: Cameron, Priya, Kali, Keisha, Nikita, Armani, Natalia, Manny, Sundari, and Nabisco.

Merchandise of the Day

Are you a fan of the BCR Cougar Siblings? Show them your love by buying merchandise that features them at BigCatRescue.biz!

Just search for Ares, Orion or Artemis at
https://big-cat-rescue.myshopify.com/

Cole & Marmalade News

Chris Poole Works For (And Lives With) Cole & Marmalade, Two Rescued Cats Who Have Become Internet Sensations

Chris will be a guest on Feb. 20 on “Talking Animals–airing 10 am to 11 am ET on Tampa NPR affiliate WMNF (88.5 FM)–and streaming live online here–will be Chris Poole, a Tampa resident probably best known for, as he describes it, being owned by cat phenoms, Cole and Marmalade.

More details can be found at http://bigcatrescue.org/chris-poole-cole-and-marmalade/

Photos for the Day

Hoover Tiger can’t believe it’s Monday already!🐾
He says let’s hit the snooze button just one more time! 💤⏰💤

Ares Cougar – Relaxed and snoozing away.