When the rescuers at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center (RRWC) answered a call about an animal in need last February, they were equal parts nervous and excited. A game warden in a neighboring county alerted them that a bobcat had been struck by a car but survived.
And although they didn’t know what condition she would be in when she arrived, the team was looking forward to meeting their first patient of her kind.
“[W]e had never admitted a bobcat for rehabilitation before,” RRWC wrote on Facebook.
But when the bobcat arrived, the RRWC team was horrified to learn that the poor girl had been found with her head stuck in the grille and the rest of her body dragging behind. Thankfully, she was breathing, but she seemed to be struggling.
“[I]t was clear that the Bobcat was in shock; she was non-responsive and clearly in pain,” RRWC wrote.
During their initial examination, the RRWC crew could see that her front right leg and back right leg were broken. But since the bobcat arrived on a Sunday, they didn’t have access to the X-ray machine at their veterinary clinic. So, they called a local equine veterinarian, Dr. Motta, who arrived a few moments later with a mobile X-ray machine to get a better look.
X-rays soon confirmed that the bobcat’s legs were broken, and although the rest of her body was overall healthy, her fractured legs posed an immediate risk.
“With an all-muscle animal like a bobcat, time was critical for surgery, and we had her in surgery by 8 a.m. on Monday,” RRWC wrote.
The four-and-a-half-hour-long surgery, led by a team of veterinarians including Dr. Parson, Dr. Baia and Dr. Zeltzman, was successful. Thanks to their immediate care, both of the bobcat’s legs were repaired — but she still had a long road to recovery ahead.
“[I]t was essential to confine her for two months to prevent jumping, pouncing and running, while we monitored her long healing journey,” RRWC wrote.
After two months of confinement, the team transported her to Companion Animal Hospital, where a follow-up exam and X-rays confirmed that both legs were healing properly. Finally, she could move to an outdoor enclosure to “start using both legs and building muscle tone.”
Thanks to a generous donation from a loyal supporter, the folks at RRWC were able to build a custom cage for the bobcat, where she recovered for several more weeks. Once she regained her muscle tone, the RRWC team decided she was ready to return to the wild.
“[T]he day finally arrived for her to experience freedom once again,” RRWC wrote.
On the day of her release, the team carried the bobcat in a crate to a secluded area and watched in awe as she ran free.
The RRWC team was beyond pleased to watch her return home healthier and stronger than they’d ever seen her. While their efforts ultimately saved her life, they can’t forget the community members who dropped everything to help — from the Good Samaritan who reported the hit, the game warden who took the sweet girl in and the team of doctors who came to her aid.
“This rescue truly illustrated that it takes a village to make a difference for this bobcat,” RRWC wrote. “This was an incredibly humbling rehabilitation experience for our team, and it was deeply emotional to see her free once more.”
