March 19 2018

Lynda Licht’s Coordinator Notes for 3/18/2018

It started off as a dark and foggy morning, but turned into a bright and productive day. We had a great volunteer turnout so we could get a lot of sold-out tours done as well as some specialty tours, feeding, cleaning and operant signoffs.

We also accomplished:

Area around Windsong Hospital, the white gate and big tree  was raked and leaves picked up first thing by the red shirts waiting for feeders to come back.

The Holley’s built a new platform for Maya in the front section of her enclosure while she’s in Funcation. Kathryn wants to cut back the overgrowth of palmettos in front so she can see the guests on the tour path.

Nikita lioness’s open air section was mowed and weedwhacked. Nikki was happy to get back to a nice clean section.

A large palm was planted near Reise’s newer concrete den to give her shade and privacy so hopefully she will use it more often.

Another large palm was planted near the drain at bottom of the ramp of gift shop.

All the replanted and new palms inside the rehab cages were thoroughly watered.

We took a toy out of a certain tiger’s enclosure that had some puncture holes in it, cleaned it off and gave it to the cougar cubs to enjoy.

Rebecca refilled our supply of bloodcicles and brought tunacicles over from the Barn.

Intern Alex took her walking test, so she can walk on property. Keeper Bridget took her feeding class.

Other Tidbits:

Jamie and a group of Big Cat Rescuers left Tampa on Friday-March 16th for a trip to India. They are going to a remote region to photograph wild tigers in their natural habitat. They are scheduled to return on Wednesday-March 28, 2018. We look forward to hearing about the trip and seeing their photos when they return.

Jamie will come back to quite a surprise because Big Cat Friend, Lesa, has sent Jamie a printer from our Amazon Wishlist. We have set the box in Jamie’s off for her to open upon her return.

Three Big Cat Friends, have sent head lamps to Carole, which Victor has added to the Bobcat Rehab team’s “Go Bags.” No the next time we are called out on a wild bobcat rescue after dark we won’t be trying to juggle flashlights in our hands while trying to manage nets to capture an injured wild bobcat.

Mickey Cougar will live on now that his ashes have been laid to rest at the base of this palm tree at the ramp from the beach to the Gift Shop. It is a poignant reminder to all of us to ask our guests to make the Call of the Wild at the end of our tours so that we can stop the suffering once and for all.

Andre and Arthur see Keeper MaryLou heading for the tunnel door and know it is about to be opened. This silly tiger brothers are both determined to be the first through the tunnel door when it opens. Photo by Keeper MaryLou Geis

Big Cat Rescue’s Operations Manager & Keeper, Kathryn, giving treats to tigers.

The following 94 big cat friends, viewers, like you, did Fundraisers using Facebook’s quick and easy Fundraiser option.  These friends’ fundraisers ended during the month of February 2018.

1. 1. Michelle D. King $332
   2. Seán Dill $330
   3. Lara Beilby $319
   4. Leisha Heathcote $310
   5. Kaitlynn Gokey $275
   6. Olivia Wilson $270
   7. Karen French $270
   8. Barbara A Stein $260
   9. Ingrid Lovisa Dahlstrand 1,985 KR
   10. Crystal Fox $240
   11. Jenny Jeffress $240
   12. Tracy Victorino $238
   13. Arwen Russell $230
   14. Jackie Reilly $225
   15. Claudia Romeo $225
   16. Leilani Romy $220
   17. Tonya Baxter Schoenbeck $220
   18. Patty An $215
   19. Rachel Elizabeth Saxon $207
   20. Matthew Martinko $205
   21. Cynthia Meneses $200
   22. Amanda Schwem $200
   23. Ludmila Polonskaia $200
   24. Melissa Gallo $180
   25. Sheston Steele $165
   26. Gina M Passantino $165
   27. Kevin Howard $160
   28. Angela McCrary $155
   29. Tiger Mousey $150
   30. Melissa Ashton $150
   31. Rachel Berry $145
   32. Constandina F Economides Andreou $144
   33. Lola Velez $140
   34. Dayna Grove-Lassiter $140
   35. Cherise Osler $135
   36. Tommy Ashby $135
   37. Leanne McIntire $130
   38. Alice Millhon $130
   39. Kaitlyn Niehaus $130
   40. Rebekah Johnson $130
   41. Paul W. Cashman $125
   42. Aliyah Wilson $125
   43. Deb Quimby $121
   44. Kasey Dennehy $120
   45. Kelly Clare Salmon $120
   46. Layla Ashley $120
   47. Emalee Gabriel Perkins $120
   48. Annabelle Forrester $115
   49. Kelly Scott $110
   50. Cynthia Brown $100
   51. Lori Scherwenka $100
   52. Debster Farmer Wiley $100
   53. Linda Mullaney $100
   54. Susan Schroeder $95
   55. Ken Aureus $91
   56. Brent Berger $90
   57. Tara Wadusky $90
   58. Shayda Nazifpour $90
   59. Cynthia Andrasek $85
   60. Ashley Williamson $85
   61. Michelle Parnis E60
   62. Chrissy Fournier $80
   63. Steve Ryan $80
   64. Robin Lynn Doiron $80
   65. Jenn McCranie $75
   66. Courtney McLaughlin $75
   67. Brad Clifford $75
   68. Kimi Bengel $75
   69. Elaine Rayner $70
   70. Stacy Jonas $70
   71. Tabitha Bolshazy $70
   72. Kaela Davenport $70
   73. Ruthann Seitz Kling $70
   74. Rylee Dawn Tate $70
   75. Tulin Waters $70
   76. Coleen Watkins $70
   77. Karen Dalyea $62
   78. Hellenbrand Heuertz Natascha E50
   79. Melissa Ogden $60
   80. Lee Marshall $60
   81. Gayle Hershcopf $60
   82. Kyle Rudolph Cook $57
   83. Marcus Krogh KR 325
   84. Matt Bryant $50
   85. Olivia DeLiddo Gallegos $50
   86. Olivia DeLiddo Gallegos $50
   87. Heather Peak $50
   88. Sarah Esordi $50
   89. Mandi Brinkley $50
   90. Jasmine Lopez $50
   91. Jahquan B White $50
   92. Trish Buell $50
   93. Jessica Hernandez $50
   94. Lee Hausman $50

NOTE: If you want help setting up or need photos for your project please contact lawanna.mitchell@bigcatrescue.org

Did You Know? Here at Big Cat Rescue, literally 100% of your donations are spent directly ON THE CATS!!! We are able to adhere to that strict policy because the other sanctuary expenses, administrative expenses, salaries etc come out of tour fees and other sources of income. We are extremely serious about donations being used JUST FOR THE CATS!

Because of adhering to that strict policy regarding donations, and all of the other ways Big Cat Rescue is transparent in our operations, we have earned Charity Navigator‘s highest 4-star rating for “sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency” EVERY YEAR since we were first evaluated by them in 2010.

For more details and screenshots on how to do this go to BigCatRescue.org/facebook-fundraiser/