Community Efforts Rescue Bobcat in Port St. Lucie
PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida — A bobcat is safe and back in the wild thanks to the collaborative efforts of local residents who united to remove a piece of plastic tubing that had become lodged around its neck.
The Discovery
The incident began in the Heritage Oaks neighborhood, where a resident noticed the bobcat approximately two weeks prior. Sharing a photo on social media, the neighbor highlighted the plight of the animal, which had a 7-inch piece of plastic tubing constricting its neck.
Community Mobilizes
Realizing that something had to be done, community members rallied together. Steve Christensen, one of the concerned neighbors, emphasized the urgency of the situation: “I said, ‘Wow, we got to get this cat help,’” reflecting on the need for humane intervention.
After hours of phone calls in search of assistance, they found Trapper Jay, a wildlife expert known as Jay Gerrish, who promptly offered his help. “To me, I was like, ‘I have to catch this cat and save it,’” he stated, aware that the bobcat’s situation was dire. Without their intervention, the animal’s life was at risk.
The Capture
Trapper Jay set a trap in a resident’s backyard in an area frequented by the bobcat. However, the first week yielded no success, with only raccoons being captured. The turning point came on Sunday night when Jay received a notification from his trail camera indicating movement around the trap.
“Sure enough, he beelined right around and right into the trap,” Jay recounted. Excitement filled the air as he confirmed capture, leading him to rush to the location.
Rescue and Rehabilitation
Once the bobcat was captured, the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center was called in to assist. They carefully sedated the animal while still inside the trap to ensure a safe removal of the plastic tubing. Following a thorough examination, they found the bobcat to be in good health.
Return to the Wild
On Monday evening, Trapper Jay returned to the site to release the bobcat back into its natural habitat. “That’s probably the high point of my job when you catch the target animal and then release that animal healthy,” he reflected on the successful operation.
The teamwork displayed by the community and willingness to assist local wildlife highlights the positive impact that collective efforts can have on animal welfare.
