Injured Bobcat Treated for Burns in Sandra J. Goodspeed Wildlife Center

Due to the Eaton Fire, we’ve seen an increase in wildlife, specifically bobcats, coming through our Sandra J. Goodspeed Wildlife Center. Some have sadly been struck by cars as their habitat burned and they were pushed into populated areas. Others have suffered from injuries directly related to exposure to the fire, such as smoke inhalation and burned paws.

A concerned Sierra Madre resident contacted us about a bobcat they spotted in their area that didn’t seem to be moving. When our Animal Control Officer arrived on the scene, they observed that the bobcat wasn’t attempting to flee, signaling that something was seriously wrong. Our ACO transported the bobcat to Pasadena Humane, where our veterinary staff discovered that she had burns on all four paws. She was also very thin, dehydrated, and probably hadn’t eaten for several days.

Our veterinary team sedated the bobcat in order to take x-rays and bandage her paws. We began treating her with medication and thankfully, she started to eat. Recently, her burns had healed enough that she was able to have two of her bandages removed, with the other two to be removed soon. We are hopeful for a full recovery for this bobcat, at which time she will be released back to the wild in an area where she can thrive.