Hey everyone, welcome to Give to the Max day!
November has arrived quietly this year, but life at the Wildlife Science Center (WSC) has been anything but quiet! The wolves, bears, raptors, cougars, bobcats, foxes, coyotes and raccoons are all buzzing in preparation for cold weather to arrive, and the humans are gearing up for another chance to raise awareness and support for our crucial work.
The story of the year arrived in the form of an emergency rescue of three orphaned cougar kittens. Their mom was shot by a landowner in the state of Washington when she attacked a privately-owned goat, thereby leaving the kittens with no way to survive in the wild. WSC got the call one warm morning this fall from a state biologist asking us to rescue these youngsters. They were still in the large live trap he used to save them, and he didn’t want to stress them out any more than necessary. Needless to say, our team jumped into action and by 5 pm, four WSC staff were on the road for the 20+ hour drive to Spokane. When they arrived, our folks assisted the biologist with sedation and examination of the kittens prior to embarking on the long return trip. The kittens were underweight and a bit weak but otherwise ok.
During the long drive home, WSC staff quietly talked “cougar” to the kittens, which amounts to a chirping sound that doesn’t make one think of a large cat! The conversations between humans and cats were adorable and the kittens grew increasingly comfortable with their new caretakers.
Fast forward several weeks- the cougar kittens have grown significantly and are beautifully plump! Their bond with one another is nothing short of charming and they remain attached to those staff who rode the many miles with them that day. This is where you come in! WSC needs help creating age-appropriate safe fun for these babies! They have gone through quarantine, have been vaccinated and wormed and now they need some playground equipment! In addition, the enclosure needs some updated kitten-proofing! Please help us make their new home as welcoming and entertaining as possible. They can no longer be wild, but they can be happy! Our crew is very experienced with these kinds of rescues of wild animals that can no longer live in the wild. We know what it takes to create a safe space in which these babes can thrive. We need your support to pull this off! Please give generously to our truly important cause and help create their forever home. You can either donate by clicking here or you can always contribute directly to WSC. We are eternally grateful for whatever amount you give.
