MADISON, Wis. — The Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) released two bobcats into the wild in March, after caring for them for the last seven months.
The two cats arrived at the DCHS Wildlife Center last August as kittens, estimated to be between 12 to 16 weeks old and are believed to be brothers. Both were dehydrated and malnourished; they were too young to survive on their own.
DCHS staff retrofitted an outdoor "flight pen," typically used to rehabilitate birds, for the cats. Staff observed them from a distance as they grew to make sure they had the skills needed to survive on their own. They said they decided to wait until after winter to release them back into the wild to give them the best chance at surviving.
As the bobcats grew larger, so did the cost of their food, with the two cats eating $200 worth of food a week. DCHS launched a fundraiser to help pay for the cats’ care.
“When we asked for help to keep these bobcats safe, fed, and thriving, our community showed us just how much they love wildlife and their generosity blew us away,” said Lisa Bernard, DCHS development and communications supervisor. “Thank you for helping us feed their voracious appetites and provide them with the special care they needed so they could grow healthy and strong, and we could return them to their native habitat.”
After giving the bobcats a final medical evaluation, they were released into the Blue Mounds Wildlife Area on March 26.
