Today is a very exciting day as we prepare to move our Bobcats into their new quarters in the Perkins Wildlife Center.
It all came down to verticality. Verticality you ask? Yes, verticality.
The existing open-topped bobcat enclosure just wouldn’t do. The lack of climbing places constrained the expression of normal bobcat behavior in the vertical dimension.
You see, bobcats, Felis rufus, are renowned for their ability to leap, jump and climb trees. Our goal in the Perkins Wildlife Center is to create environments that allow the animals to express their innate talents, adaptations and behaviors.
When the Perkins Wildlife Center was renovated in 2000-2003 there simply were not enough resources available to consider putting a top on the Bobcat enclosure. So the exhibit was designed with a standard 8’ tall chain link fence perimeter.
To prevent the bobcats in the exhibit from climbing out, strands of hot wire, wires that carry a harmless but attention getting shock, were strung along the top of the fence. However, the height of the perimeter fence limited the height of trees and shrubs in the exhibit and thus climbing opportunities for the bobcats were limited. The enclosure suffered from a lack of verticality.
In 2005, the bobcats were moved to the Open Country Raptor enclosure. It was covered, more secure and provided some height for climbing. However it was not ideal.
So we drafted a plan for retrofitting the original bobcat cage with a vaulted top that would provide space for the bobcats to climb, jump and explore.
And this past year, Trustee Ann Jones provided the support needed to construct the new cage enhancements. Construction commenced in late 2007.
Construction was not easy or straightforward. Gaining access to this site was problematic. Digging post holes for telephone poles had to be done by hand to avoid hitting underground utilities. The perimeter fence of the Perkins Wildlife Center had to be breached so that a mechanical ‘bobcat’ could be used to bring in trees and shrubs, poles and fencing, rock and soil. Again, most of the work had to be done by hand. Robert Stovicek & Associates handled the construction with seeming ease as they erected the new perimeter poles and the central masts.
The style of construction is in keeping with the other enclosures in the Perkins Wildlife Center. Other enhancements to the exhibit are new off-exhibit holding cages and improved landscaping. Installation of aquatic vegetation in the exhibit pool is slated for this summer.
Visitors to the Perkins Center now see an enclosure with 20’ high poles supporting the vaulted wire roof. With more than 1000 square feet of floor space and a 20 foot high top, well you do the math. They will have lots of real estate to romp, jump, run, leap, climb and, well, be bobcats.
So now that the construction is complete, today is the day when the bobcats will see their new home. Ann Jones will help with the introduction of the cats into the new cage after a ceremony in the Perkins Wildlife Center at 1:30 pm.
And when Sierra and Sage (aka. Bad Bob and Bitty Kitty) step into their new home, they will be living in one of the finest bobcat enclosures in the Midwest.
And boy what verticality!
Special Thanks to Anne Jones for her generosity in making the improvement possible!
