Spirit Feather Hunting Rats

Photo of Spirit Feather via explore.org cam viewer CherylJ

The good news is spirit feather is successfully hunting the live smaller rats out of the feeding station. The bad news is she does not do this until the middle of the night so the rat sit there all day.

Please start feeding her in the p.m. instead. Put the two small live rats in the feeding station and the chick with meds on top of the feeding station.

Please continue to feed Mrs. Claws in the morning as this is the schedule she is used to and clean the water dishes in the morning as they are sometimes dirty from visitors overnight. – Jamie to the Bobcat Rehab Team

Gorongosa Video

Our friend, Jan in Africa, that made and donated the “Rescue Me” video about cub petting has made another great video. He says, “I have written this tribute song to Gorongosa National Park. The song has been produced by JD Mercer at JAV Studios in the USA. It is a non profit, non commercial production. This is tribute to all the people all over the world, working so hard to save the endangered African wildlife. And a reminder that how ever bad the situation is, there is always hope if we stand together. Remember…..extinction is forever!!! Best regards, Jan Schnell

Gale & Kathryn Go on a Bobcat Call

We got a call about a bobcat laying on the side of the road at 4:30 pm. The woman wasn’t sure if he was dead or alive, that it was huge and brown with black tipping on the tail, and said she didn’t have time to go back and take a photo. She said it was laying at the edge of the woods near County Line Road and Livingston Blvd., in Lutz, FL. She didn’t have an exact address, but gave a good enough description that I felt like we could locate the cat if it was injured or dead. It was pouring down rain but Gale and Kathryn rushed out to see if they could find the cat. It was about 40 minutes away, during non peak traffic and took about an hour to get there in rush hour traffic.

At first Gale reported, via text to me, that there was no dead cat on the side of the road. I asked her to check the pavement for blood and then work her way behind the brush, as the cat may have crawled further into the bush. Minutes seemed like hours, but finally a text came in that Gale & Kathryn had found a dead deer. Big, brown, black tipped tail. A sad night for some deer family, but we were relieved that it wasn’t a bobcat.

Wildcat Health Updates

Jumanji Leopard is doing better outside.

Nala Serval keeps fussing with her leg, despite the cone to protect it. So far it isn’t red, so we are just keeping a close eye on her.

Hoover Tiger is eating well. TJ Tiger and Cameron Lion are not, but they are eating enough for their reduced activity levels.

Nirvana Ocelot isn’t eating well. She’s a cat we hand feed several times a day, but it’s getting harder and harder.

PurrFection Ocelot may have a dental issue. She’s chewing more slowly, but she’s very old too. We are coordinating a time for her to see the vet. Maybe the same day as Artemis Cougar gets her teeth looked at.

Update on the Most Important Bill to Protect Big Cats

Sandy Strunk reports: GovTrack.us Email Update Sep 6, 2016 — New Cosponsors – YAY!
H.R. 3546: Big Cat Public Safety Act

New Cosponsor: Rep. Charles Dent [R-PA15]
New Cosponsor: Rep. Gene Green [D-TX29]
New Cosponsor: Rep. Grace Meng [D-NY6]
New Cosponsor: Rep. Paul Tonko [D-NY20]
New Cosponsor: Rep. Peter Welch [D-VT0]
New Cosponsor: Rep. John Yarmuth [D-KY3]

The bill now has 88 cosponsors (68 Democrats, 20 Republicans).

BCR note: We’ve been able to generate 6,798 emails and more than 5,000 calls to Congress, asking that they champion this bill, so it’s great to see that it’s working!

Other Cat News

End Wildcat Trafficking

Good news! Yesterday, the US Senate passed the bipartisan Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt (END) Wildlife Trafficking Act (H.R. 2494) introduced in the Senate by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). The bill must still pass the House.

The Mountain Lion Foundation commends the Senate for taking action to curb wildlife crimes and to promote bilateral agreements and international cooperation to combat wildlife trafficking and reduce demand for illegally traded wildlife and wildlife products.

Senators Coons and Flake introduce bipartisan bill to combat growing wildlife trafficking crisis

Listen to a Cat Chat

Half an hour with Stacy LeBaron of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society http://www.animals24-7.org/2016/09/17/cats-on-the-air-everywhere/

Walkabout Tees on Sale Now!

Even if you can’t come to the Wildcat Walkabout on Oct. 1, 2016 at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL, you can still help fund the five wild cat conservation projects by purchasing your awesome, commemorative tee, tank or other gear now: