Photos from: Wildlife Care of Southern California
Many threats are currently facing wildlife throughout the U.S. including the devastating wildfires currently burning in California, Oregon, and Washington. Other threats, such as poisoning by rodenticides, are not as talked about but are negatively impacting the survival of many species.
Sadly, this invisible and silent killer claimed the life of yet another wild animal this week; a bobcat suffering from mange after most-likely ingesting a poisoned rodent.
It is excruciating for the poor animal and senseless!
WAN talked exclusively with Anna Marie Reams, the Founder and Executive Director of Wildlife Care of Southern California, about the emaciated bobcat that she recently rescued (pictured above) from the Topanga Mountains and tried to save.
In a heart-wrenching social media post, Reams, who specializes in working with coyotes and the more-elusive bobcats who have mange due to rat poision, explained that she did not want the bobcat to die “without people knowing his fight.”
“He was a male bobcat and weighed in at 8 pounds where he should have weighed at least 20 pounds,” shared Reams, further explaining that the animal was suffering from mange and was extremely dehydrated, anemic, and his gums were white.”
“It has been proven by the National Park Service that wild animals are predisposed to mange after they ingest poisoned rodents which compromise their immune systems. The poison is stored in the liver further attacking the body,” explained Reams.
“Poison bait is a common method of ground squirrel and rodent control because it requires relatively little labor when compared to other methods. It involves distributing bait which is put in bait stations in and around agricultural buildings, livestock or domestic areas, crops, orchards, groves, vineyards, campgrounds, restaurants, golf courses, recreational areas, and nurseries, just to name a few,” Reams told WAN. “The irony in using this poisoned bait is that they are an attractant and will draw rodents in. Once the rodent consumes the bait, it could take up to four days to die. That is when a predator, such as this bobcat or a coyote, will catch him and they will die as well.”
