Nonprofit group Friends of Land Between the Lakes is raising money for a new bobcat enclosure at the Nature Station.
The bobcat at LBL’s Nature Station is friendlier than most. Interpretive Naturalist Arrianne Byrum said aptly named 'bobcat' has lived his entire life around people after he was struck by a vehicle as a kitten. He was nursed back to health and donated to the Nature Station.
Now at two-years-old, the bobcat will remain in the care of humans for the rest of his life. Byrum said he wouldn't survive in the wild. He can't jump and run because of his previous injuries.
She said the bobcat lives in an enclosure that is more than 20-years-old and needs major updates.
Friends of LBL is raising money to add more plants and rocks to the enclosure to make his habitat more realistic. Byrum said the group also plans to renovate his indoor den.
“It’s still going to be an indoor enclosure, but we want him to access the inside of it, right now he can only access a small part of it,” Byrum said.
Byrum said repurposing his indoor den serves to protect the bobcat from severe weather. Other updates will include a double door entrance for naturalists to safely enter and exit the enclosure, and replacing the fence so visitors can get a better view.
“We like to have animals like this because he provides what we like to call a ‘nat-geo moment,’ where people, they’re very common animals, but people don’t get to see bobcats in the wild, they’re very rare,” Byrum said.
Friends of LBL has raised more than $2,500 toward their $35,000 goal on their ‘Back the Bobcat Barrens’Red Basket donation page.
