Chips prior to her release into bobcat territory. Photo courtesy of Sierra Wildlife Rescue.
HUMBOLDT, Calif. -
The
bobcat kitten who was rescued by firefighters during the Chips Forest
Fire in Plumas County last August, was released into bobcat territory in
Humboldt County Friday.
"Chips,"
who gained national attention, was found wandering a long a road near
Lake Almanor. At first, firefighters left Chips alone, but Chips
followed the sounds of their voices and had trouble opening her eyes due
to ash in the air. Chips' eyes were full of soot and ashes and her paws
had second-degree burns.
Chips
is eight months old now, but was rescued at only four weeks old by US
Forest Service firefighter Tad Hair, of the Mad River Hand Crew. The
bobcat kitten was taken to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care for medical
treatment by veterinarians and rehabbers, and then transferred to a
Sierra Wildlife Rescue facility in Placerville.
As
a kitten, Chips was thought to be a little too “friendly,” due to
necessary handling by humans to treat her extensive injuries. Early
concerns were that she would not become wild enough to be released.
However, over months in the company of other bobcats, she became
cautious of any human contact, and grew up eating, playing, wrestling
and competing with her den mates.
Prior
to her release, Chips and and her den mate Sierra both growled and
snarled at their rehabber and lunged at the camera, showing the kind of
instinctive wild behavior rehabbers ensure is present in any animal
prior to its release.
No comments:
Post a Comment