• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Thursday, February 25, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

Sherwood: Where the Wild Things Still Are

BCR by BCR
February 15, 2013
in News World
0
0
SHARES
26
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

SANCTUARY — Coquille, a North American Cougar, lays in her enclosure at Wildcat Haven in Sherwood. Coquille is one of more than 50 wild cats that live in the sanctuary, which celebrate it’s 10th year this year.

My, how time flies.

You might also like

Cub Petting Shame

Rules

GoFree

It’s been 10 years since Cheryl and Mike Tuller first opened their doors to 52 wildcats at their Sherwood home.

Today, bobcats, lynx, cougars and a pair of Siberian tigers are the fulltime residents of Wildcat Haven, an animal sanctuary on the Tullers’ property.

The Tullers own eight acres, deep in the woods near Sherwood and have been taking in cats since 2001 when the couple realized how many people were keeping wild cats as pets, and decided to do something about it.

“
People are keeping cougars in a 10-foot by 10-foot dog run in the backyard,” Cheryl Tuller said. “People are breeding them specifically to sell, whether its to private owners or roadside zoos. There are thousands of breeders breeding and selling these animals.”

Wildcat Haven has taken in cats from all across the country, and each has a different story.

There’s the story of Rastafari, a serval cat who lost part of an ear and half of her tail to frostbite while living with private owners in Iowa, or Morocco, whose broken foot was never treated by a vet.

“When we got him eight months later his leg was four inches shorter than the other. He was in real pain,” Tuller said.

If you build it, they will come

The Tullers’ know first hand how it feels to own an exotic pet and be in over their head. Tuller purchased a bobcat-kitten hybrid from a Roseburg breeder in 1999 and it didn’t take long for her to realize that she had made a mistake, she said.

“(The breeder) said that he could eat regular cat food, he’d just be bigger than a normal housecat and I thought that’d be great,” she said. “Of course, six months into it I realized that none of that stuff was true. He was a wildcat.”

Tuller met with exotic pet groups and animal sanctuaries to try and tame her wild pet, but by the time he was 1 year old, the cat – named Bobo – was spraying throughout the house, couldn’t eat domestic cat food and would chase after other family pets.

Bobo, Tuller soon realized, could never be domesticated and she began to look into alternatives for her pet.

“We were like ‘we’ve got to get rid of him,’” Tuller said. “But then, whose gonna take him? We’d have to put him down.”

Tuller wasn’t alone. Exotic wild cats have become a growing trend among exotic animal owners, many of whom aren’t able to take care of them properly, she said.

“We realized we weren’t the only idiots out there. We already had Bobo and didn’t want to put him down, but maybe we can do something to make this right, instead of adding to the problem we can maybe do something about it”

It was then that the Tullers moved from Tigard to their home near Sherwood so that Bobo could get the treatment and care he needed, with room to build other pens if they came across another wild cat that private owners could no longer care for.

“But what’s that old saying, ‘If you build it, they will come?’ Within the first three months we had eight more cats sent to us, six came from the same person,” Tuller said. “And it kind of went from there.”

Not open to the public

But don’t head out for a visit to the sanctuary just yet – Wildcat Haven isn’t open to the general public.

“We don’t use the animals for profit, they come here to have a lifetime home in a peaceful and safe environment. We could make a ton of money if we let in people, but then we wouldn’t be a sanctuary, we’d be a zoo.”

Wildcat Haven keeps the Tullers busy. Cheryl works as the sanctuary’s director and Mike serves on the Wildcat Haven board of directors.

“It’s what we live and breathe,” she said. “It takes that much effort to do what we do. We’re glad we’re able to do it and we wish more people could do what we do, but I really wish that nobody had to.”

The Haven turns down requests to take in cats every month, Tuller said, and only accepts about five new cats every year.

Wildcat Haven is expected to continue to grow. The Tullers are currently building a new pen to house three new cougars, and are raising funds for a new 5,000 square foot enclosure for the sanctuary’s two tigers.

More than anything else over the past decade, Tuller said that growing the sanctuary has been a learning experience.

“No matter what you think, a cat’s nature and instincts always win over. I swore I could make Bobo a house cat. I knew I could without a doubt. But I learned over the years that instincts win out, and it is not going to happen.”

For more information on Wildcat Haven visit wildcathaven.org.

bigcatrescue.org


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Ignoring Warning for Trapping Canada Lynx, Man Sentenced to 1 Week in Jail

Next Post

VIDEO After Beatings, is it Time India had a Project Leopard?

BCR

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

Cub Petting Shame
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

January 17, 2021
1.3k
Be Safe Out There!
How To Start A Sanctuary

Rules

March 31, 2020
98
Big Cat Rescue does bobcat rehab and release of native, Florida bobcats.
Articles by BCR

GoFree

March 29, 2020
379
Nik Tiger being Xrayed
How To Start A Sanctuary

What is a day like at Big Cat Rescue?

June 30, 2020
49
Cougars at Big Cat Rescue
Memorials

Artemis

January 28, 2020
193
Next Post

VIDEO After Beatings, is it Time India had a Project Leopard?

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Take Action Against Abuse

Shop To Save Big Cats

More From BigCatRescue

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Big Cat Information

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Versioin
No Result
View All Result
  • 2018 Appeal
  • About BCR
  • About our Cookies
  • BCR in the Media
  • Big Cat Rescue Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade
  • Big Cat Times
  • Blog
  • Board of Directors
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Credentials
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Embed Link
  • GET THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT CUB PETTING
  • Global Big Cat News
  • Intern Program
  • Kids
  • Latest from Big Cat Rescue
  • Licensing
  • Map
  • Map of Big Cat Owners
  • Netflix
  • News about Big Cats
  • News Gallery
  • News@BCR
  • Our Video Series
  • PressRoom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Rescues
  • Search result
  • Series Archive – Default header
  • Shop
  • SnowLeopard
  • Social Stream
  • Staff
  • Teachers
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • Test Gravity
  • USFWS
  • Vets
  • Videos archive
  • Get Involved
    • Automatic
    • Sponsorships
    • Volunteer
      • AdvoCats
      • Click to Feed
      • Intern
    • Legacy
    • Roar! Speak Out for Big Cats
    • Ink
  • Finances
  • How We Started
  • Abuse Issues
    • Issues
      • Exhibitions
      • Private Ownership of Big Cats
      • Zoos
      • White Tigers
      • Circus
      • Fur
      • Trophy Hunting
      • Canned Hunting
      • Why Regulations Don’t Work
  • Our Evolution
  • Photos & Facts
  • Videos
  • Our Volunteers
  • Your Privacy
  • Donate
  • Site Map
  • Field Trips

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Add New Playlist