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WAYNESBORO, VA (Rocktown Now) — On September 26, 2025, the Wildlife Center of Virginia shared the story of a six-week-old Bobcat kitten admitted from Highland County. Now, they have an update!
In the weeks since her arrival, Bobcat #25-3628 has made remarkable progress under the care of the Center’s veterinary and rehabilitation teams. When the kitten was first admitted in mid-September, she was thin, dehydrated, and suffering from a necrotic tail injury. Following surgery to amputate the damaged tip, the wound has fully healed, and the young Bobcat has steadily grown stronger and more independent.
By late September, staff noted that she weighed just over one kilogram and was showing increasing enthusiasm for solid food. Her diet—once reliant on formula—was gradually transitioned to include chopped mice and a high-protein “mush” blend. To help her develop coordination and strength, the Center’s maintenance technician, Mathew, built a custom climbing structure to encourage natural movement and exploration.
In early October, the Bobcat’s progress earned her a move from the Center’s indoor ICU to a larger outdoor space—one of the Center’s secure bear pens. The enclosure offers a complex environment with plenty of opportunities to climb, hide, and explore. Soon after the move, remote cameras captured her sunbathing, stalking insects, and wrestling with branches.
“She’s very active and alert, and she’s showing all the right wild behaviors,” said Alex, the Center’s rehabilitation supervisor. “We want to encourage those natural instincts while keeping her appropriately fearful of humans, which is key to her success after release.”
Throughout October, the rehabilitation team continued to refine her diet and enrichment. She now eats primarily whole prey, supplemented with a small amount of high-protein food, and enrichment items are added daily to promote foraging and hunting behaviors. Earlier this month, a live mouse was introduced into her pen; staff observed the kitten tracking its scent and stalking through the enclosure—an encouraging display of developing predatory skills.
Weighing more than 1.6 kilograms as of October 20, the young Bobcat continues to thrive. She spends much of her time climbing, hiding among leaves, and exploring her environment, all while maintaining a healthy wariness toward humans.
If her progress continues through the winter, the Center’s goal is to release her back into the wild next spring, once she’s old enough and skilled enough to survive on her own.