RAMONA — A bobcat kitten rescued last year while emaciated and suffering from anemia and mange has been released back into the wild following months of intensive treatment at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, the organization announced this week.
Wildlife Center workers released the female kitten back into her native habitat on Sunday, the Humane Society said in a statement.
A gardener found the kitten Oct. 14 in bushes in San Clemente. She was initially treated at Serrano Animal & Bird Hospital in Orange County, where she arrived unresponsive and required CPR, officials said.
The 10-month-old kitten underwent a blood transfusion from a domestic cat before the state Department of Fish and Wildlife transported her to the Ramona facility on Oct. 18, according to the Humane Society.
Alexis Wohl, wildlife veterinary manager for the organization, said the bobcat “arrived in incredibly poor shape, battling everything from parasites to extreme malnutrition.”
“Seeing this patient transform from an emaciated kitten with little fur into a healthy, powerful bobcat ready for the wild is the ultimate reward for our team,” Wohl added.
While at the Ramona facility, the kitten stayed in an outdoor enclosure designed to mimic her natural environment, officials said. “This allowed the bobcat to build the necessary strength and hunting skills while recovering her full coat of fur.”
The veterinary team provided a rigorous course of treatments, including antiparasitic medication to combat infections, as well as fluids and iron supplements.
The Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program is considered the primary resource for animal rehabilitation in the San Diego region, while the Ramona facility specializes in caring for apex predators and large mammals, such as bears and mountain lions.
The nonprofit receives its funding through donations and rehabilitates more than 13,000 wild animals each year. More information is available at https://sdhumane.org/programs/project-wildlife/.
