Monday, December 30, 2013

Bobcat Watch

Contributed by Jessica Larsen, Education Specialist for the Micke Grove Zoological Society

When walking through the beautiful grasslands and woodlands of our North American countryside, have you ever felt like you were being watched? Perhaps you got that "creepy feeling" and the hair on the back of your neck started to rise, but when you turned around, nothing was there - well, nothing that you could see, anyway. Does that mean nothing was actually there?

The bobcat's camouflage helps it hide among rocks and grasslands.
How easily can you see the cat in this picture? Photo Courtesy SuperStock.com
Because of their secretive nature and cryptic camouflage, few people ever see bobcats in the wild. But that doesn't mean that they don't see you. Bobcats are designed to be stealthy hunters that stalk their prey and take them by surprise, and have even been nicknamed the "spitfires of the animal world" due to their fearlessness and willingness to stand and fight when provoked. Even the young kittens can be quite ferocious. Nonetheless, their safest defense is to stand back and observe their threats to determine if their energy is better saved for another day.

It is assumed that bobcats received their name for their short "bobbed" tail, although the way run also makes them appear "bob" through the trees. Quite athletic, bobcats are extremely agile and are excellent climbers. They can run at about 30 mph when chasing a meal, can out-swim a dog, and their spring-loaded back legs enable them to jump as high as 10 feet.


In addition to their athleticism, bobcats are very intelligent. They are notorious for outsmarting other animals and hunters, including humans. One of their tactics is to backtrack over their own scent trail, which helps hide their most recent path and confuse both predators and prey. Speaking of scent trail, they will urinate on just about anything that stands. This is one clue that certainly tells animals - humans and non-humans alike - that they're around!

Given the unlikeliness that you will see a bobcat in the wild, you can look for other clues about their presence without having to sniff them out. In the wetter months and in regions where the ground is moist or soft, search for tracks that have four toes without claws and an "M" shaped pad that are no taller than 1 1/2 - 2 inches. Like most cats, they are secretive about where they go to the restroom, but if you come across a pile of scat (animal feces), examine it to see if it resembles a larger version of your typical house cat's. If the tracks and scat look fresh, chances are a bobcat is watching you from nearby.

Comparison of commonly seen tracks in the wild, including the bobcat. Photo Courtesy Michigan DNR.


Keep following our blogs for updates on the Micke Grove Zoo's new bobcat!



Friday, December 27, 2013

Half way done!

Shared by Carrie McMorris, Animal Care Specialist 

Today marks two weeks since our little bobcat arrived and he is quickly becoming a staff favorite.  He is adjusting well to the sights, smells, and sounds of Micke Grove Zoo.  He was given access to an outside pen area in Quarantine last Friday. (one week after arrival) and when myself or other keepers peek in to check on him he is often seen outside.

This coming up week, I will introduce my training tools to him. These tools will include a clicker and a target.  The target will be a tennis ball on a stick.   I intend to have him do behaviors like touch his nose to the target, stand, go into a crate, and step onto a scale for starters.  These basic behaviors will allow me to work with the cat in a safe and calm manor.  Training can be a slow process, but I am not worried about training this cat, he seems to enjoy my attention and is food motivated! this means he should be willing to do what I ask him for a little bite of a tasty treat like a piece of mouse!

Next week I will let you know how his first training sessions go...
until then....
Carrie
Animal Care Specialist
Primary keeper for the bobcat

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Bobcat receives first vet examination at the zoo!

Posted by Carrie McMorris, Animal Care Specialist
Greetings and happy holidays!!!

It has been less than a week, and our bobcat is settling in quite nicely. Wednesday is the day our vets from UC Davis visit the zoo, so the bobcat had his physical exam completed while under anesthesia. This is something all of the animals undergo once a year and it is done in the clinic on zoo grounds. This was an opportunity for our veterinarians to assess the condition of our newest addition.

The top picture gives you an idea of his size.  Here the vets are giving him his examination.
He seems to be a healthy boy. He weighs in at 9.6 kg, which is about 22 pounds!  After a series of radiographs (x-rays), blood work, vaccines, checking of his eyes, ears, and mouth, and me taking a lot of paw prints, he was done. When he woke up from the anesthesia he was all purrs... no worse for the wear.

A radiograph (x-ray) of the bobcat's skull. Cats have fairly large orbitals (for large eyes)
and short maxilla (sinus/snout). This demonstrates how their skulls are set up to
support strong vision. Their sense of smell is not as powerful as a dog's, but still pretty good!

The bobcats hind feet. They have four toes and retractable claws like most cats.
Keeper Carrie loves cat feet and you will be able to purchase some artwork done by
these feet in the near future!
It will take a few days before the results of his blood work come back,  but we are expecting all to be well.
6 days in quarantine done!

Until next time.
~Carrie

Saturday, December 14, 2013

He's here! He's here!

Posted by Carrie McMorris, Animal Care Specialist

Hello! The bobcat has finally arrived!!!

The bobcat arrived safe and sound last night.  He was flown into Sacramento airport and landed at 9 PM. I arrived shortly thereafter and picked him up from air cargo. After the one-hour drive back to the Micke Grove Zoo, he was let out of his traveling crate and into the zoo's quarantine facility. That was when I got my first good look at him... and he is GORGEOUS!!!  He walked around checking out his new home, found his food, and ate comfortably. As his primary keeper, it was a great relief for me to see him so at ease.  I know he is going to do very well here and am very excited to welcome him to our animal family.

Here are a few pictures I was able to capture this morning:




.
He is playful and curious - just as he should be for a nearly 2 year old cat! He was wild born and found as a small kitten. The bobcat was then taken to a rehabilitation center in Arizona. While there, he became imprinted on humans. That means he does not fear people but rather enjoys their company. This is not good for a wild animal and therefore he could not be released back to his natural habitat.  

We here at Micke Grove Zoo are happy that we can offer this beautiful bobcat a forever home. Ideally in a perfect world he would be running wild living free, but I, along with the rest of the staff here, will do all we can to provide him with a safe and wonderful life.
Until next time....
~Carrie

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Bobcat set to arrive Friday, December 13

Welcome to The Bobcat Blog created by the staff of the Micke Grove Zoo! This blog was created in celebration of the young male bobcat that will be arriving at the zoo on Friday, December 13!

Bobcat image courtesy of Arizona-Leisure.com

Linked to our website and Facebook, we plan to use this blog to share with Micke Grove Zoo supporters the adventures of both the staff and the cat.We will be sharing photos, anecdotes, progress, and announcements on this little guy as he adjusts to his new life at the Micke Grove Zoo. With his stage name open to those in our community that would like to donate significant funds to support him, the bobcat is a great addition to the zoo's collection of native and exotic wildlife.

Despite being the most common wildcat in North America, the bobcat is an elusive creature rarely seen in the wild. Bobcats are roughly twice the size of the average house cat, and are equipped with powerful legs, claws, and sharp teeth capable of taking down prey as large as deer. Named for their "bobbed" tails, bobcats have soft, spotted beige to grey fur coats. These coats made them popular targets for hunters and trappers in the early to mid-1900s.

Check back frequently for updates!