A Pennsylvania bobcat that was found trapped in a car grille with both legs broken is back in the wild, ending a monthslong recovery that demanded emergency surgery, strict confinement and a custom-built exercise cage. The release gave rescuers a hard-earned payoff after months of uncertainty.
The young female arrived at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center on Feb. 15 after the crash in Adams County. In an account from CBS Pittsburgh, the center said she was in shock and “clearly in pain”; because its veterinary office was closed that Sunday, an equine veterinarian brought in a mobile X-ray machine and confirmed fractures in both a front and back leg.
By the next morning, surgeons were repairing the injuries and placing plates to stabilize the bones. WGAL reported that the bobcat then needed roughly two months of confinement because jumping, running, and climbing could have undone the repairs, with follow-up X-rays later showing that the bones were aligned and healing properly.
A Memorial Donation Helped Build The Bobcat’s Exercise Cage
Once the bobcat was ready to rebuild her strength, Raven Ridge faced an unusual problem: The rescue had never cared for a bobcat before and did not have a suitable enclosure for controlled exercise. CBS Pittsburgh reported that a memorial donation from a deceased supporter covered the construction and delivery of a custom cage, allowing the animal to regain muscle tone before she could “experience freedom once again.”
After weeks in the outdoor enclosure, the bobcat was released into the wild. Raven Ridge called the rehabilitation “an incredibly humbling” experience and said seeing her free was deeply emotional, a conclusion made possible by the driver who stopped, the game warden, veterinarians, rescuers, donors and volunteers who kept the effort moving.
Raven Ridge’s Work Extends Across Pennsylvania
The Washington Boro nonprofit says its mission is to give injured wildlife a second chance and return fully healed animals to their natural ecosystems. According to the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center, the organization has rehabilitated more than 300 species and works with a team of more than 40 volunteers.
For Pennsylvanians who encounter injured wildlife, the Pennsylvania Game Commission says only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may care for animals to release them back into the wild. The agency advises people to avoid handling wildlife themselves and to contact a licensed rehabilitator or the Game Commission for guidance.
