On a bitterly cold night, with temperatures plummeting below 0, a family watched in shock as an injured bobcat dragged its body through the snow up to their door. How did he know this might be his only chance for survival, the one place that might help him?
He propped his head on their doorstep, peering through their window, anxious for some sort of help. Luckily for him, the homeowners, Mark and Brenda Winberg, wasted no time and rushed into action.
No officers from Minnesota’s Dept. of Natural Resources were available, so Hermantown Police Officer Kristi Hansen received the radio page to “put the animal down and bring the body to the DNR facility.”
The family insisted, “Absolutely not!” They said that Officer Hansen “didn’t feel comfortable shooting it so near our house either. My kids fell in love with this little guy as he watched us through the door,” Brenda Winberg explained.
Instead, the Officer contacted dispatchers and asked for a list of rescue organizations who might be able to help. Luckily for this bobcat, she reached Wildwoods Rehabilitation, a non-profit organization in Duluth, and they hurried to the scene.
Grabbing catch poles, leather gloves, thick wool blankets, and a dog kennel, Peggy and Farzad Farr of Wildwoods Rehabilitation headed to the Winberg's home. They notified their veterinarian to meet them there, in case the cat had to be sedated.
Due to his injuries, the bobcat wasn’t able to run. Farzad was able to gently corral him into a large kennel. Even so, Peggy said “this rescue was a little scary. Thank goodness for catch poles!”
The next morning, he was taken to bobcat expert Dr. Deb Eskedahl of Wild and Free in Garrison, MN. She found that this 1 ½ year old male bobcat had suffered a concussion, was a bit underweight, and covered in fleas. But, miraculously, there were no fractures.
Hearing the news that the bobcat was expected to make a full recovery, the Winberg’s were thrilled. They thanked the rehabbers and veterinarians “for taking such good care of our little visitor!!! I'm happy we pushed, she (Officer Hansen) listened, and we found another option.” Many times, there are alternatives like this for wounded wildlife.
Once the family's photos from that night were posted on Wildwoods Rehabilitation’s Facebook page, kudos began pouring in for the heroic efforts of Officer Hansen. (see slideshow on lefthand sidebar of this article)
Though the officer felt she just did her job, Peggy Farr said that this bobcat owes his life to her. “You're the one who took the time to look for alternate solutions to ‘just shoot it.’ You are a shining example of a compassionate officer who goes the extra mile to find the best solution - rather than the easiest. We are so lucky to have people like you in the police force!!!”
Rescue work brings more than its share of heartbreak. Happy endings like this are treasures for all involved. “I look forward to this bobcat living wild again,” shared Tammy Thies, director of Minnesota’s Wildcat Sanctuary, as she thanked all involved when she heard about this rescue.
That is something everyone seems to agree with.
If you’d like to help donate to the bobcat’s care or help with Wildwoods Rehabilitation’s goal of opening a rehab/education center, please go to www.wildwoodsrehab.org.
ABOUT WILDWOODS REHABILITATION
Wildwoods is a 501c3 nonprofit in Duluth, MN. Our wildlife rehabilitators and volunteers work to help orphaned and injured animals return to their natural lives, and to be a resource for people who find these animals.
Our Mission is to promote the well-being of wildlife and the world we share through compassion, care, and community education.
Our goal is to open a free-standing, self-sustaining rehab center in the city of Duluth, with a two pronged mission--wildlife rehabilitation and public education. We feel that rehab without education just bandaids the underlying problem. People need to learn to live with and embrace the presence of wildlife around them, and find humane solutions to human/wildlife confllicts (fence in your garden from the deer, etc). As a species, we need to learn how to share the world with our non-human kindred and find a way to peacefully exist within the web of life, rather than trying to dominate it and re-work it.
A free-standing center will allow more people to volunteer and will keep rehab and public education going and growing into the future. We are all working for a day when people respect and honor animals for who they are, and honor what they bring to our world....
Peggy Farr, Wildwoods Rehabilitation
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