Surrogate bobcat mothers sprang into action
– again – when a 7-week old female bobcat arrived in Morgan Hill
needing care. The bobcat, named Suisun (sue-soon) was found
floating in Solano County’s Putah Creek on May 16, and pulled from
the water by a fisherman. Suisun ended up at Morgan Hill’s Wildlife
Education and Rehabilitation Ce
nter (WERC) because of the organization’s nationwide reputation
for raising baby bobcats to be released back into their native
habitat and able to care for themselves.
Surrogate bobcat mothers sprang into action – again – when a 7-week old female bobcat arrived in Morgan Hill needing care.
The bobcat, named Suisun (sue-soon) was found floating in Solano County’s Putah Creek on May 16, and pulled from the water by a fisherman. Suisun ended up at Morgan Hill’s Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center (WERC) because of the organization’s nationwide reputation for raising baby bobcats to be released back into their native habitat and able to care for themselves.
WERC has taken care of more than 20 of the spotted cats during the 10 years the program has operated, said director Sue Howell.
WERC’s procedures involve never allowing the cats to have human contact, except when they visit the veterinarian – an experience that promotes the fear of humans necessary to wildland survival. When at home, they are cared for by a series of “bobcat moms” – dressed in costumes made from spotted bobcat-like fabric and smelling of eucalyptus leaves and the comforting odor of bobcat urine.
Evelyn Davis is a WERC associate who is hosting Suisun at home in a specially prepared room, once Davis’ daughter’s room.
“Fish and Game brought her (the cat) down to San Jose where I met her,” Davis said. “When she arrived at the Suisun Wildlife Center they phoned around (looking for someone to take the bobcat) and everybody said ‘send her to WERC’,” Davis said Thursday.
Davis took Suisun directly to the Animal Care Center where WERC bobcats always receive medical care. Veterinarian Shanna Compton checked her over and sent her home to Davis’ room lined with plastic, trees and shrubs.
“Even her lungs were fine,” Davis said, “and we expected to find water in them after her trip down the river.”
But after a week the cat, who seemed healthy, began to produce bloody diarrhea and went back to the vet.
“The tests were negative,” Davis said, “but they gave her antibiotics anyway, just to be sure.”
Suisun’s main “mom” said she is feisty and plays really well with everyone but, at first, she was suspicious and timid.
“It’s because she was really bounced around,” Davis said, “from the fisherman pulling her from the creek to Fish and Game to the Suisun Wildlife Center, then to the vet and to WERC.”
It took several days to get the cat to quiet down, Davis said, “but it was evident that she was lonely and needed contact.”
The “moms” used a teddy bear to break the ice, rubbing her, patting her and after a week the caretakers can play with her, clean her up and, soon, begin to teach her how to be a bobcat, another WERC specialty.
“She’ll be with me another 10 days,” Davis said, “and then should be well enough to go to WERC.”
Suisun will remain with WERC until she is about 6-months old, in September or October, when she will be released to a suitable spot near where she was found.
To raise funds for its operations, WERC will auction on E-Bay from June1-14, the chance to be present at Suisun’s release in the fall.
As always, Davis said, food and money are problems. Suisun will consume about 110 pounds of mice during her 6-month stay and, while the Suisun Wildlife Center sent along two bags of frozen mice, more will be needed soon. Davis says she isn’t soliciting actual dead mice but donations of money are always welcome.
FUNDRAISING BBQ
WERC will host a “Barbecue and Auction” on Saturday, June 19, from noon to 3 p.m. at the San Martin Pumpkin Patch, 13865 Monterey Road. Enjoy a barbecue with all the trimmings, bid on unique auction items and attendance at a bobcat release, have a chance at great opportunity drawings and meet the educational animals. Also, request your favorite songs from noon to 1:30 p.m. with Perry Productions DJ services. Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Deadline to buy tickets is June 10. Details: www.werc-ca.org OR 779-9372.
The WERC website, for information and donations, is www.werc-ca.org and address is W.E.R.C, P.O. Box 1105, Morgan Hill, CA. 95038-1105.
Carol Holzgrafe covers City Hall for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at ch********@*************es.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 201.
