It was a warm, sunny April day when Roberta Bobcat was released back to the wild after having been in rehab for 7 months, recovering from significant injuries sustained after she and her sibling were hit by a car at C-470 near the Morrison exit back on September 23, 2008. The sibling unfortunately died at the scene but the remaining kit, weighing only 7 pounds, needed immediate care and surgery to repair two broken legs. Dr. Dan Brod, orthopedic specialist at Deer Creek Animal Hospital in Littleton, along with veterinary staff at the Hospital performed life- and intricate, delicate leg-saving procedures on the kit.

Following veterinary treatment Roberta Bobcat arrived to Ellicott Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for rehab and postop care to see if she would indeed survive the trauma and if she would recover for release. Native Colorado wildlife in rehab must recover to 100% condition for release back to the wild after rehab by licensed wildlife rehabilitators or they are euthanized, per State and federal law. Successful rehab is priority. EWRC licensed rehabilitator provided critical care for the next several days, ensuring that the cat remained warm, well-hydrated, well-nourished, clean, stress-free, comfortable, and secure. Her prescribed medications were administered stress-free via her food. This is the time when we must be very watchful for signs of infection, cage stress, and other potential complications. A very important job in rehab was to ensure that the young cat remained completely wild and didn't become accustomed to humans, as that also would have been a death sentence for her. To keep the young cat wild and wary of humans, only one caregiver was permitted to provide care for Roberta throughout her course in rehab.

Over the course of the next couple of months the bobcat did well during her postop phase, eating her natural diet of rodents and other natural bobcat prey items that contained her prescribed medications. In a short period of time she had doubled in weight and seemed content.

Acouple of minor procedures were performed by Dr. Dan Brod of Deer Creek Animal Hospital and later on by Dr. Bill Hancock at Belcrest Animal Clinic, and Roberta's rehab course progressed during the next several months.

As she grew and needed more space to continue healing and hands-off physical therapy as well as time and room to heal, Roberta was moved to another facility, Wet Mountain Wildlife, where she enjoyed a spacious outdoor enclosure complete with trees and logs for exercise and to regain muscle mass. This outdoor environment assured the cat would remain completely wild and acclimated to her environment.

At a healthy spring female bobcat weight of 22 pounds and with respect to the appropriate release time of year as well as Colorado Division of Wildlife-approved release site and with permission from the property owners, it was time to release the bobcat!

On a perfect spring day we celebrated the release of a 22-pound Roberta Bobcat to ideal bobcat territory in Douglas County at a working ranch, Pine Cliff Ranch. This hospitable habitat for the cat in a remote forested area is replete with abundant prey and bobcat hiding places. Management of the Ranch maintains thousands of acres that are not open to the public and they welcome a diversity of native wildlife on their property, understanding and appreciating the delicate balance of nature and why a variety of native wildlife is important in preserving this balance. The gracious owners and management of the Ranch were happy to offer Roberta a home on their property.

This effort to heal an injured bobcat was by no means a one-person show. Indeed, many caring individuals and well-wishers contributed to her success and ultimate release back to freedom after a long course in rehab. We would like to take the opportunity to thank these people. We would also like to mention that Ellicott Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is a state and federally licensed wildlife care facility that receives no state or other agency funding, and we rely on donations to provide services. As a facility that serves the entire State of Colorado, we provide care to hundreds of sick, injured, and orphaned migratory birds, including species of concern, and small- and medium-sized mammals, annually. We are currently in the beginning of busy baby season, which will keep us busy through September. We need help via donations of funds and materials to continue providing food, care, and services to wildlife in rehab at our facility.

Please visit us at www.ellicottwildlife.com for more information.

EWRC

P.O. Box 75069

Colorado Springs, CO. 80970

THANK YOU!

Colorado Division of Wildlife

Lakewood Animal Control

Cec and Tom Sanders, and Wet Mountain Wildlife

Dan Brod DVM and Deer Creek Animal Hospital

Bill Hancock DVM and Belcrest Animal Clinic

Sue Cranston and Indigo Mountain Nature Center

Dana Morgan

Tom O'Toole

Peggy and Joe Wrabetz