Budding Bobcats

By Mimi Vanderhaven

Last July, Lake Metroparks Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center welcomed two new residents—bobcat kittens—a boy and a girl who had been orphaned and rescued in southern Ohio.

Since then, they have thrived in a special wildlife enclosure—one of just a couple in the state—that’s equipped to mimic natural habitat conditions so they can thrive.

“These abandoned bobcats were quite small, the girl was only about two pounds,” says Traci Keller, wildlife care assistant manager. “We’ve encouraged innate skills that allow them to survive in the wild, such as hunting prey and catching food. They’ve gained weight and grown nicely. We plan to release them back to the southern part of the state mid- to late-May.”

The rescue mission represents a different kind of homecoming for the bobcats, who were once on the threatened species list. Native to North America, bobcats were extirpated (regionally extinct) from our state around 1850 due to loss of habitat. They began to repopulate beginning in the mid-1900s and more are sighted every year.

“These two bobcats are the 13th and 14th to be rehabbed here and released since 2013,” Traci adds.

A few fun facts:

• A bobcat’s average weight is 13-30 pounds and their lifespan is up to 15 years

• They change their shelter every day

• They are territorial and solitary

According to Traci, most of the bobcats in Ohio live in the southern and eastern parts of the state. If you happen to see one in the wild, don’t be afraid as they do not usually initiate contact or attack humans. She cautions to not engage with the animal, but to just back away slowly.

Want to get a peek at these magnificent animals? Visit the bobcat cam at LakeMetroparks.com, where thousands of people, including Mimi, have enjoyed watching them within their spacious wildlife enclosure. (Who needs funny cat videos when you can see the real thing?)

Lake Metroparks annually provides more than 4 million visitors with countless recreational and educational experiences at diverse facilities. For more information, visit LakeMetroparks.com.To view the live webcam visit goto.lakemetroparks.com/webcams.