Four orphaned bobcat kittens from across California are getting a rare second chance at life in Saratoga, where wildlife rehabilitators are quietly preparing them for a future back in the wild.
The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA said Tuesday they have admitted their first-ever bobcats to its Wildlife Care Center in Saratoga, marking a milestone for the organization’s wildlife rehabilitation program.
The kittens arrived from different corners of the state under very different circumstances. One was rescued in Concord after neighbors heard it crying alone for several days. Another was found in Carmel, underweight and infested with parasites. The two newest arrivals came from Kern County after their mother died in a fall.
Now, all four are recovering in secluded enclosures nestled among the trees on the center’s 169-acre campus, where caretakers keep human contact to a minimum to help the young animals retain their natural instincts.
“These bobcats will remain in our care for an extended period, as young bobcats are not fully independent until approximately 8 to 10 months of age,” said Colleen Crowley, the organization’s communications manager. “Our goal is to ensure they maintain a healthy fear of humans and develop hunting, climbing and survival skills necessary to thrive in the wild.”
If all goes as planned, the kittens will be released sometime after October, once they are old enough to survive on their own.
The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA said people who find injured, sick or orphaned wild animals can contact the organization at 650-340-7022 for assistance.