March 27 2017

Big Cat Updates

Cameron & Zabu are sure enjoying their vacation. Watch them streaming live at: Explore.org/bigcatrescue

Jade & Armani leopards are enjoying FunCation

Coordinator Lynda’s Report 3/26/2017

Overall a good day with ample volunteers and a small work group who raked around Little White Dove & Running Bear, Moses & Bailey and between Apollo and Backyard Bobs.

Red shirts got to help with the work group, food prep, observe enrichment, scare the vultures from vacation and see outback cats. All left very happy.

Joe ate good this morning. Since he’s shifting to PM feed, I did not prep a meal.

Cameron ate only 1 piece this morning. After PM meds were done Becky got him to eat 4.5 lbs of turkey drums/thighs and ground beef.

Hoover and TJ ate light this morning – only 3.5 lbs. It was warm this afternoon so all cats were in dens sleeping. At PM meds time Hoover ate almost 7 lbs and TJ ate almost 4 lbs.

Lakota ate 12 oz. at feeding time. Sioux did not. Tried again in the PM and she ate 7 oz. – mainly the pork of the pork, red meat & chicken I offered to her.

Will had another seizure.

Otherwise cats were good.

Enrichment was done in the afternoon and interns got operant signoffs.

It was a good day.
Lynda

Lakota Gets ‘Fixed’ & Sioux Gets Spayed 3/27/2017

In their previous home Lakota and Sioux lived together. We’d like to reunite them, however, since we do not do any breeding here at Big Cat Rescue we cannot allow them together until they have been fixed. One of our amazing volunteer vets came in today to neuter Lakota and spay Sioux so they can be reunited. Until they both are fully recovered they will live as neighbors. After they both recover from their surgeries we will give them the choice whether they want to live together or not. If they do choose to live together we will make sure they have ample space and multiple dens so if they have days they want to be alone they will have enough space to have some time alone.

VIDEO: Lakota and Sioux to see the vet

Catching Lakota and Sioux to see the vet today. Watch LIVE over at BigCatRescue.org/vet Help fund these life saving surgeries by buying great bobcat items here: https://big-cat-rescue.myshopify.com/search?q=bobcat

VIDEO: Windsong Memorial Hospital Surgery Room Part 1

VIDEO: Windsong Memorial Hospital Surgery Room Part 2

Lakota Bobcat is getting neutered.

Lakota Exam Photos 3/27/2017

Next it was Sioux’ Turn

VIDEO: Windsong Memorial Cat Hospital Surgery Room
Sioux Bobcat being prepared for x-rays, dental & spaying spayed

Watch the video of the X-Rays for Sioux: https://www.facebook.com/bigcatrescue/videos/10154299222876957/

VIDEO: Windsong Memorial Cat Hospital Surgery Room
Sioux Bobcat is getting a dental

VIDEO: Windsong Memorial Cat Hospital Surgery Room
Sioux Bobcat getting spayed

Sioux Exam Photos 3/27/2017

Keeper Corner

3/27/2017 Afternoon: Sioux and Lakota are both awake and just as angry lol. Otherwise everything went well, and he will get to go back outside this afternoon. ~Keeper Afton

Lakota & Sioux’ Rescue Info & Photos

For those who missed it, Lakota & Sioux were rescued last week from a failed roadside zoo in Alabama.

See the rescue photos and read the story at: http://bigcatrescue.org/march-24-2017/

Keeper Notes for Lakota & Sioux’ first week at BCR March 2017

When they were first put in their enclosure upon arrival at Big Cat Rescue, Sioux was the first one out to explore and mark her new home. Lakota was more cautious and preferred to stay in hiding in the carrier for a while.

Lakota was missing a lot of fur when he was rescued, but it’s probably just a flea infestation. The vets will find out soon if that is the case. In fact, the vets will do a skin scraping to check for mange, ringworm, etc. All of our cats are treated monthly to prevent fleas, but most places don’t help the cats that way because it is pretty expensive to do every month. We feel it is an important part of their care.

By his second day here he had climbed the trees to the very top, all the way to the roof. He stayed up there looking down on the keepers and the tour. He has marked everything and found all the good hiding spots.

Sioux was pretty quick to venture out of her carrier that first day. She wasted no time checking out her new home, the platforms, they toys, and marking everything. She really likes the platforms. However, she has also spent quite a bit of time hiding and watching.

Sponsor / Adopt Lakota or Sioux

Your sponsorship helps us provide for the needs of the cats. There are multiple levels of sponsorship to choose from.

You can sponsor Lakota or Sioux for an entire year for a one time fee of $25. That sponsor kit includes:

All kits include the following appreciation gifts:
– Four page color fact sheet about your chosen species
– Big Cat Rescue logo window decal
– Registration Card you use to select the cat of your choice. The card has the link to our website to see the cats and their bios
– 8×10 color photo of the cat you choose to sponsor with the cat name and your name as sponsor printed on it

There are additional levels of sponsorship, if you’d like to do that. Each level includes more benefits. The link below will take you to a page showing those additional goodies.

https://big-cat-rescue.myshopify.com/products/bobcat-sponsorship

Big Cat Gift Shop BigCatRescue.biz

Bobcat items to help support the new rescues, Sioux & Lakota

Bobcat Tees: Available in different styles and many colors.

Bobcat Tote Bags: Available with different bobcat photos

Bobcat Mugs: Available in two different sizes.

Featured Big Cat – Smalls

Find out more about her at BigCatRescue.org/Smalls

Viewer Pix

Viewer Leslie Fitzpatrick: Reise Cougar

Viewer Leslie Fitzpatrick: Sassy Caracal

Viewer Robin: Seth hanging out by the lake

Viewer Susann Mesna: Seriously, how handsome can you get?

Viewer TragicRushFan: Joseph eating upside down.

Joseph getting evening meds and snacks. LOL, he had been napping in his den and did not want to get up so Keeper Becky used the long feeding stick and have him “snacks in bed.” If you want to see this happening check out this video replay.

VIDEO: Evening Meds & Snacks with Becky & Carole

Hear Anasazi calling and see Sabre, JoJo, Frosty, Joseph, and several more cats.

Viewer Videos From Explore.org/bigcatrescue

There are some GREAT videos recorded by viewers at explore.org/bigcatrescue that you will really enjoy watching.

Fuego, the turtle, kicking up dirt. He better watch out because on a previous vacation, Cameron tried to eat him.

Silly Cameron & Zabu

A stroll around the lake before breakfast

Cameron Loves Zabu

Cameron, Zabu, and the Vultures

Seth in the lake

Cameron being sweet to Zabu

Here is a list of YouTube channels that feature videos of the cats here:

Susann https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUFOZiTvzKRvj-oVbzdByvg
Ruxandra https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCsjKptd1gM9BhfDkGQGNg
Donna P: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcFbhMc8Sqr-8MreWuYr4Bg
Shawna https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfl9S-vDPJIgjl8QpM6Aypw
Cathy S https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ynHBFLKj0BVnK5jo2gTnw
A Heart For Nikita https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSxAXUTh29XWQw35acpU1Ag

Global News

March 27, 2017

Photos available on the FWC’s Flickr site: https://flic.kr/s/aHskSYiUCS

Suggested Tweet: Big leap for #Florida #panther conservation: @MyFWC documents #kittens north of Caloosahatchee: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/19043d6

FWC documents panther kittens north of Caloosahatchee River

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has verified the presence of at least two panther kittens north of the Caloosahatchee River in southwest Florida. These kittens are presumed to be the offspring of the first wild female panther documented north of the river since 1973.

“This is good news for Florida panther conservation,” said Kipp Frohlich, deputy director for the FWC’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. “Until now, we only had evidence of panthers breeding south of the Caloosahatchee. These pictures of a female with kittens indicate there are now panthers breeding north of the river.”

Using trail cameras, biologists have monitored male panthers on various public and private lands north of the Caloosahatchee River for several years. In 2015, biologists collected a photo of what appeared to be a female panther in the FWC’s Babcock Ranch Preserve Wildlife Management Area in Charlotte County. They deployed additional cameras in the summer of 2016, and captured more images of what they believed to be a female panther.

“Early this year, the cameras captured images of a female that appeared to be nursing,” said Darrell Land, FWC panther team leader. “For many years, the Caloosahatchee River has appeared to be a major obstacle to northward movement of female panthers. This verification of kittens with the female demonstrates panthers can expand their breeding territory across the river naturally.”

“This is a major milestone on the road to recovery for the Florida panther,” said FWC Chairman Brian Yablonski. “We are mindful and appreciative of all the many partners and cooperators who have supported panther conservation efforts over the years leading to meaningful moments like this.”

The FWC works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure panther conservation on both private and public lands. Staff also work to continue building support and cooperation among private landowners who maintain working landscapes and ranches that provide important habitat for panthers.

“This is good news for panther recovery, and the Service is committed to working with landowners to make panthers and private land ownership compatible,” said Larry Williams, State Supervisor of Ecological Services for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Florida residents can support panther conservation efforts by purchasing a “Protect the Panther” license plate at BuyaPlate.com. Fees from license plate sales are the primary funding source for the FWC’s research and management of Florida panthers. These funds contributed to the successful documentation of this important panther conservation milestone.
You can help with panther research by reporting panther sightings, and uploading photos and videos to the FWC at MyFWC.com/PantherSightings.

For information about Florida panthers, including tips on how to safely coexist with them, visit MyFWC.com/Panther.

WANTED – Graphic Artists

Carole is looking for a graphic artist who really gets what we are all about and would would like to help us with some graphics for shirts. If that is you or if you know someone like that, please have them email Carole at cat@bigcatrescue.org