The Woodlands Nature Station bid farewell to our bobcat today. The female cat passed away earlier from kidney failure. Such illness is common in older bobcats. Rescued near Memphis, Tennessee, our bobcat arrived as a kitten. She came to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in 1995.
In her 22 years living here, she contributed to the learning and knowledge of almost one million visitors.
Bobcats play a vital role in our environment. Weakened due to habitat loss, bobcat populations rebounded thanks to effective conservation practices. We estimate that over 200 bobcats reside on the inland peninsula today.
The Woodlands Nature Station provides a home for rescued native animals, and serves as a classroom to thousands of young visitors each year.
We already miss our bobcat, but take comfort in knowing the important role she played in educating generations of children and adults.
Bobcat: April 1995-July 2016
