A woman in Colorado Springs, Colorado more than likely thought she was helping an injured animal, but wildlife officials say otherwise.
According to reports, a woman encountered a bobcat that had allegedly been hit by a car. She picked up the wild animal, wrapped it in a blanket, and placed it in the back of her SUV. The woman then contacted Colorado Parks and Wildlife about what to do next.
District Wildlife Manager Sarah Watson responded to the woman’s call Wednesday morning and was “shocked” to see a bobcat peaking out from underneath a blanket inside the woman’s vehicle.
Watson told the woman and her young son to get behind her vehicle while she secured “the very alert cat with a catchpole to put it in a large animal crate.”
As Watson attempted to remove the bobcat from the vehicle, it hissed and exposed its claws in order to protect itself, unlike when the woman picked up the cat and it was dazed.
See this bobcat? Notice its large teeth? Imagine the claws within its big paws. A #ColoradoSprings woman picked up this injured wild cat and put it in her car where her child was seated! NEVER PICK UP WILD ANIMALS. She was lucky. Please call @COParksWildlife and let us handle. pic.twitter.com/ZbhlnmRwdH
— CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) September 19, 2019
“It could have been a very dangerous situation for this woman if it had come to when she was picking it up,” Watson said, according to the Denver Post.
This is the sight that greeted @COParksWildlife officer Sarah Watson when she responded to a call about an injured bobcat on Wednesday. An unrestrained wild bobcat in the back of an SUV under a blanket. A child's car seat was just feet away. NEVER PICK UP WILDLIFE! pic.twitter.com/x8GXL0zvNv
— CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) September 19, 2019
Unfortunately, CPW officials determined the bobcat was mortally wounded, it’s hind legs were paralyzed and it’s possible the animal also sustained internal injuries, and euthanized the adult male.
Now officials are warning others not to pick up wildlife and instead call a wildlife agency or 911.
“You never ever pick up wildlife whether it’s a fawn or bobcat or a bear cub,” CPW spokesman Bill Vogrin said. “You’re putting yourself in grave harm. This could have been a tragedy.”
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