Another Successful Bobcat Release

By Traci Keller, Wildlife Care Assistant Manager & Tammy O'Neil, Widlife Care Manager

Lake Metroparks’ Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center has become the official bobcat rehabilitation facility in the state of Ohio. Although the staff has gained experience and vast knowledge of these apex predators, there is always more to learn. While these mysterious creatures’ populations have been on the rise in Ohio, there is still much to know about these elusive animals. 

The bobcat’s population trend appears to be stable, but the movement of the population and the number and area of verified sightings still needs further understanding. In 2017, verified sightings for the state numbered almost 500, compared to 200 in 2014. Also, in 2014, verified sightings were confirmed in 57 counties in Ohio, but in 2017, when the population estimate doubled, they were confirmed in only 46 counties. Is the population estimate for 2017 accurate, and if so, why has the population doubled, when that is not the normal trend seen since they were removed from the endangered and threatened species list in 2014? These are still questions that need answered. 

While many questions remain unanswered about the bobcat population, we are doing our part to learn as much as we can during their first year of life. The data we collect raising orphaned bobcats is shared with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife to help aid in their field studies. 

First male bobcat kitten

This past year, we raised a male bobcat for the first time. He was also the youngest bobcat we have received. The care and raising of this bobcat brought about its own obstacles compared to the three females that we have raised and released in the past. This little male was lucky enough to have a good Samaritan in the right place at the right time. She happened to see an adult fox carrying what she thought was a domestic kitten in its mouth at a recreational park in Harrison County. She startled the fox and it let go of the kitten. She immediately took the kitten to a local veterinarian who determined it was a bobcat kitten. 

The kitten was then transferred to the Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center right away. Upon admission, he was very weak and tiny weighing only a half a pound at a week old. He required intensive round-the-clock care to prevent hypothermia and hypoglycemia. He gained strength slowly but steadily, doubling in size in two weeks. He was stubborn to wean off the formula, wanting to continue milk feedings a couple weeks past the females. He also just decided one day he was done with milk instead of gradually weaning off it like the other bobcats did. So, we tried putting cut up meat in his cage one night to see if he would be interested in it at all and he ate all of it overnight, never touching the formula again. After that, he grew quickly and became very independent. He was then vaccinated and moved to an outdoor enclosure so he could be isolated from human contact and have room to grow. 

Encouraging instinctive behaviors

The outdoor enclosure allowed him the space to exhibit natural behaviors. Natural enrichment is added to the enclosure a couple times a week to encourage foraging, exploring, strength building, endurance, coordination and agility. The enclosure also allowed him to adjust to ever-changing weather patterns. The bobcat was fed through a feeding chute so it does not associate humans with food. We had a live camera on the bobcat 24/7 so we could monitor his health, growth and record behaviors. This camera was also available to the public through our website, since he was away from public view. 

Natural food sources were introduced through donations from local hunters and fisherman. The bobcat was also given a whole deer carcass obtained after it was hit by a car. The deer carcass allowed him to practice tearing thick hides of prey and caching food for later consumption. The amount and type of food given changed throughout his stay based on natural food available at different seasons. We also did not feed him every day, as he would not eat daily in the wild. Everything we did encouraged his instinctive behaviors that are inherently passed on from mother to kitten. We mimicked nature by keeping the bobcat a year, just like the mother bobcat would do before encouraging him to venture off on his own. The bobcat exhibited all the natural behaviors and survival skills necessary for him to have a prolific life in the wild. He was released back into the wild in southern Ohio in May.