MINNESOTA – A Minnesota resident rescued what he believed was a stray kitten crying near a car tire at a busy lot earlier this week—only to discover it was actually a bobcat.
The Good Samaritan brought the animal home, unaware of its true species. After realizing the kitten might be wild, he contacted the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota (WRC).
“A little while later, he began to suspect it wasn’t a domestic breed and started calling around. Thankfully, he found us and transferred the kit to our care,” said Tami Vogel, Communications Director at WRC.
The center confirmed the kitten was their first bobcat intake of the summer. Experts believe the young bobcat was separated from its mother, possibly due to a predator disturbance.
“Mom and the rest of the litter likely stayed together, but this little one got separated somehow, and mom didn’t realize it to come back,” Vogel explained.
Reuniting Wildlife—When Possible
Normally, WRC advises returning healthy, uninjured wildlife to where they were found, giving mothers a chance to reclaim their young.
“If you find an orphaned wild animal that isn’t hurt, don’t feed or handle it—put it back for mom to find. If it’s still alone the next day, bring it to a licensed rehabber,” Vogel said.
However, this bobcat was in a high-risk area and had been alone overnight, prompting WRC to admit it immediately. Minnesota law requires orphaned wildlife to be transferred to a licensed rehabber within 24 hours.
Road to Recovery
The kitten, slightly dehydrated but otherwise healthy, will receive care before being transferred to a specialized bobcat rehabilitator.
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