Bobcats #26-3064 and #26-3309

The Wildlife Center is currently caring for two orphaned Bobcat kittens who will spend the next several months growing, developing, and learning together under the care of the rehabilitation team.

The first to arrive was Bobcat #26-3064, a young bobcat found alone in Augusta County on July 25 after a dog chased her into a garage. Her rescuer saw no signs of her mother and, concerned by the kitten’s thin and weak appearance, carefully contained her and brought her to the Center for evaluation.

Upon admission, the Bobcat was quiet but alert, weighing only 1.32 kg. A physical exam revealed that she was markedly thin and dehydrated, with fleas and ticks covering her ears. Radiographs did not reveal any injuries, but a fecal test showed that she also had coccidia, an intestinal parasite. Given her condition, the veterinary team suspects that she was orphaned or separated from her mother before she was ready to survive on her own, leaving her struggling to find food. 

The veterinary team administered fluids and started the Bobcat on antiparasitic medication before moving her to the Center’s acclimation shed to recover. As she settled into her new surroundings, rehabilitation staff noted that she was “feisty and eating well.”

Just days later, more than 200 miles away in Chesapeake, another young Bobcat was found alone in a chicken coop. After several days passed with no sign of her mother, the kitten was taken to Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge. Because young Bobcats can benefit from growing up with another of their own species, the Center coordinated with Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge to transfer the Chesapeake kitten to the Wildlife Center, where she was admitted as patient #26-3309

The two kittens are currently living in adjacent enclosures in the Center’s Bear Pens while being treated for heavy parasite loads. Testing on August 19 showed that both still had parasites after their first round of treatment; they will be treated again and retested on August 26. 

In the coming months, the rehabilitation team will evaluate the kittens’ growth and development to determine when they are ready for release. 

“Juvenile bobcats can become independent during their first fall, although some may remain with their mothers through the winter, so there isn’t necessarily one natural cutoff point,” Rehabilitation Supervisor Alex said. “We’ll look at their physical development, hunting skills, human avoidance, and overall behavioral readiness. If they’re ready this fall, we can release them then; if not, we’ll overwinter them and plan for a spring release.”