Aspen, the Bobcat
Critter Creek Wildlife Station often gets calls misidentifying wildlife: baby eagles turn out to be kestrels, enormous snakes turn out to be alligator lizards, and bobcats turn out to be large, ornery tom cats. So I was pretty skeptical when a Woodward Park resident called to say a large bobcat had jumped his wall and had commandeered his retriever's doghouse. Without gloves, net, or portable kennel, I checked up on the "bobcat." To my total surprise...sure enough...there lounging on the patio in the doghouse was a good-sized adult bobcat.

Returning with a borrowed kennel, I found the bobcat to be most cooperative about entering the kennel. In the move, I also noticed she had been declawed and was wearing a harness. Later I found she had also been spayed. As someone's illegal pet this beautiful bobcat had been denied her freedom forever. Aspen is now a permanent resident at Critter Creek. In the state of California, it is strictly forbidden to keep wildlife (any wildlife) as pets. Seeing the power of Aspen lost in captivity should be enough to convince anyone of the wisdom of this law.

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