Rescued wildcats getting new Ore. home

By Tim Becker Updated: Wednesday, July 24, 2013

A tiger at WildCat Haven sanctuary in Sherwood, July 24, 2013 (KOIN 6 News)

SHERWOOD, Ore. (KOIN) — It’s not a zoo and it’s not open to the public. WildCat Haven is a sanctuary for 67 big cats — cougars, tigers, servals and bobcats — that were all unwanted, abused or displaced.

A sign at WildCat Haven sanctuary in Sherwood, July 24, 2013. (KOIN 6 News)

The local sanctuary founded by Cheryl and Mike Tuller currently sits on less than eight acres of land in Sherwood. That will change in less than a year when they move into a home 10 times larger — 82 acres — about 40 miles south.

Born into captivity, these wildcats don’t know any other way of life.
“This project amazes me that a couple, two people, started WildCat Haven and they started out by saving one bobcat,” said board member Cheri Cooley. “Now they’re up to 67.”

A cougar at WildCat Haven sanctuary in Sherwood, July 24, 2013. (KOIN 6 News)

Last year the sanctuary rescued two bengal tigers, Nora and Katie, from their life in Ohio. At WildCat Haven they have more space and a natural, peaceful setting.

“The breeding of exotic animals is a huge problem in the US today,” said Ken Hick, another sanctuary supporter. “The basement breeding of exotic animals has done tremendous damage to both the animals and, in many cases, to people who don’t know what they’re doing.”

Sanctuary supporters believe it will cost between $3,000 and $6,000 per enclosure to build on the new site, roughly $200,000 total.

To help reach that goal, they’re holding a Summer Safari Soiree fundraiser this weekend.
Enclosures for large breeds like cougars and tigers will be more than 20,000 square feet each. Smaller cats will live in a space roughly the size of an average family home.

“Our new facility, which we’ve already purchased, is 10 times larger than where we’re at now,” Cooley said. “It’s also flat, so it gives us a lot more use of the property and has wonderful outbuildings so we can do more to outreach to educate people about the cats.”

The larger sanctuary will give the animals more and better space — and help supporters in their fight against basement breeding.

“With our new location and our new education center,” Hick said, “we’re going to be able to bring in legislators, lawmakers and show them what we need to do.”

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