“Country roads, take me home to the place I belong.” – John Denver
That was the mood on the clear and brisk morning late in November, when bobcat “Fairfield” was driven more than 110 miles—one way—to a prime bobcat habitat near where he had been rescued in July. Fairfield had been cared for at WERC for almost five months and had grown from a sickly, undernourished, 2.5-pound, 10-week-old kitten to a healthy, feisty, robust 18.5 pounds. A hardy convoy of volunteers from WERC and Suisun Wildlife Center, plus veterinarian Dr. Suzanne Colbert, hiked another mile up into the hills while conveying the bobcat’s kennel on a stretcher. Go to werc-ca.org to watch a video of his release.
Fairfield’s long transport home is just one of the release stories that illustrate WERC’s commitment to the welfare and preservation of the genetic integrity of our wildlife and their habitats, of going the “extra mile” for native mammals, birds and reptiles.
WERC carefully researches and receives permission for possible release sites before choosing the best site for an animal. There must be a plentiful source of natural food, such as field rodents, pond fish or wild berries, depending on the animal and its diet. There must be access to water, whether a river, creek, lake or pond. And there must be cover—trees, caves, brush, rock piles for example—for the animal to hide from predators, build a home or provide shelter from bad weather. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife also decrees that mammals must be released within three miles from where they were found.
Several years ago, a tiny 4-week-old bobcat was found crying, wet and shivering under a fallen bridge in the far northeastern corner of California. The bobcat prospered under WERC’s care and surrogate mothers but because Northern California had become too cold and potential prey (food) was no longer readily available, “Modoc” couldn’t be released until spring when the weather was warm and prey was again abundant. Then she was flown back to the area where she was found—a round trip of almost 900 miles.
Birds have an inborn sense that determines where and when to migrate. They are also territorial creatures and sing to warn other birds that the area is already taken. The robins of each territory have their own dialect and “accent.” So, when an orphaned baby robin found near Yosemite was brought to WERC for nurturing, staff felt that once the robin had matured, it was best to drive the bird all the way back to where it had been found, rather than take the chance that it would be a “lost babe in the woods” if released in the South Valley area.
Another example of WERC going the extra mile to ensure animals under its care are released back to their native habitats is the story of a 7-inch long Western Pond Turtle. The turtle was seen crossing the road in Copperopolis, near Sonora. Fearing for its safety, the rescuers transported it to WERC in Morgan Hill, where they lived. The pond turtle is the only fresh-water turtle native to the North American Pacific Coast and is a protected “species of special concern” in California. Research show pond turtles’ colors and markings vary geographically. So, noting that our local pond turtles have green stripes, but that this one had yellow stripes, staff felt that the best thing to do was to drive the healthy and uninjured turtle back to where it was found, a round trip of almost 300 miles.
Whether releasing a young barn owl at dusk to our local fields or returning orphaned bobcats to Fairfield, Modoc, Morro Bay, San Miguel and other distant parts of California, these stories demonstrate WERC’s dedication to the welfare of our native wildlife.
