A cougar kitten is getting a second lease on life after it was discovered hungry and frostbitten just outside of Williams Lake last weekend.
Sgt. Jeff Tyre of the Conservation Officer Service said the young animal was live-trapped in a subdivision just west of the city Saturday, Jan. 13, after it had been fending for itself for almost a month since its mother was struck and killed on Highway 20 near Chimney Valley Road Dec. 20.
B次元官网网址淲e suspected there were kittens around but we hadnB次元官网网址檛 had any reports,B次元官网网址� Tyre said, noting he was alerted by a Facebook post that the kitten was in a backyard.
Officers contacted the homeowner and set up the trap, catching the kitten that evening.
Except for being dehydrated and having frostbitten ears from the extreme cold spells over Christmas, a veterinarian gave the kitten a clean bill of health and recommendations on feeding, while the officers got to work looking for alternatives.
B次元官网网址淧utting him down was not an option, it wasnB次元官网网址檛 something we wanted to do. WeB次元官网网址檝e been exploring every option,B次元官网网址� Tyre said, confirming Wednesday he and fellow conservation officer Ron LeBlanc will be transporting the young animal to the Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove Monday, where it will have a permanent home.
BCCOS in Williams Lake rescued this 2 month old orphaned cougar kitten. COs believe the kittenB次元官网网址檚 mother was struck and killed by a vehicle. The kitten has found a home at the Greater Vancouver Zoo
B次元官网网址� BC CO Service (@_BCCOS)
LeBlanc, who has been caring for the kitten at his own home at 150 Mile House, said he feels it is a privilege to be able to work with animals. Being able to make a difference is one of the biggest perks of his job.
B次元官网网址淭his is why I joined the COS, to help the animals and police the resources and when you get a little cat like this and youB次元官网网址檙e able to save it B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e super happy about that,B次元官网网址� said LeBlanc, who named the kitten Charles because B次元官网网址渋t sounded like royalty.B次元官网网址�
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Tyre said before they committed the kitten to the zoo, they weighed all their options.
He said the kitten is too young for release back into the wild.
B次元官网网址淗e doesnB次元官网网址檛 know how to fend for himself properly. He doesnB次元官网网址檛 have his mom to teach him how to feed or forage for food. So, given his age, we donB次元官网网址檛 feel heB次元官网网址檚 a good candidate for relocation.B次元官网网址�
Rehabilitation also isnB次元官网网址檛 an option for the kitten, as there are no rehab facility for wild cats in North America.
Living at a game facility or zoo was the animalB次元官网网址檚 best option.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes you wonder if you should let nature take its course but nature wasnB次元官网网址檛 what hit his mother on the road that day so we will step in, itB次元官网网址檚 our responsibility. ItB次元官网网址檚 humans that caused the motherB次元官网网址檚 fatality so weB次元官网网址檙e going to help the kitten out.B次元官网网址�
