ROANOKE, Va. – BOBCAT CAMERA
Rescued bobcats are now live on WSLS from the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center. Check out our Bobcat cam on our Watch Live page here.
10 News viewers have shown a lot of interest in the kittens since we first shared their story. Now, you can check in on them in their outdoor enclosure at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center in Roanoke throughout the day. According to Virginia DWR, bobcats are most active just after dusk and before dawn. They are secretive, solitary and seldom observed, tending to hunt and travel in areas of thick cover. Bobcats rely on their keen eyesight and hearing for locating enemies and prey.
The two rescued kittens arrived at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center in early August at one week old with their eyes closed and are now approximately six months old. They are the smallest type of Lynx cat, can weigh up to 40 pounds and have been known to live up to 15 years in the wild.
According to Chester Leonard with the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center, their goal is to return to the wild, so unlike a zoo, they have patient numbers rather than names. Leonard says food and rehab for the kittens is expensive. The total cost is expected to be around $25,000.
If you would like to make a donation to the center, click here.
UPDATE
According to Chester Leonard with the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke, the bobcat kitten that was hit by a car and taken into the center has died. We’re told the bobcat had internal injuries that weren’t revealed until later on, and the team brought in an outside feline specialist for a second opinion.
“It went from otherwise healthy to crashing in very little time and there was nothing that could be done to save her. We’re still recovering from the loss,” said Leonard.
There are now two remaining bobcats in the care of the center.
ORIGINAL STORY
The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center has released an update on three bobcats they’re now on the path to recovery.
Back in November, a bobcat kitten was brought in after getting hit by a car.
[Bobcat kitten recovering at Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke after being hit by car]
On Tuesday, officials said the kitten is now with two other bobcats, and they’re all recovering well.
“Although they look like a large cat, they’re probably three times denser than a cat because they weigh so much more given the size and they are just solid muscle, but they are eating us out of house and home and they’re doing great,” Chester Leonard said.
The center is still asking for donations. We’re told rehab is expensive, and the total cost for all three is expected to be around $25,000.
If you’d like to donate, you can send a check or click here. There are also options to donate via PayPal, Facebook Pay, or Venmo.