orphan WA kitten to Denver zoo

[Emily]

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... /712120001

follow the link for the pic of a very cute cub

Seventh state cougar cub off to zoo

By Michelle McNiel
World staff writer
Posted December 12, 2007
Enlarge this photo


A 6-week-old cougar kitten that was captured southeast of Cle Elum and cared for by an East Wenatchee veterinarian waits to be shipped to the Denver Zoo. The 7-pound cub was flown to Denver on Sunday, where it joins a 3-month-old cub captured in South Dakota. In the past four years, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has sent seven cougar kittens to zoos in the United States. (Rich Beausoleil photo)

WENATCHEE — A 6-week-old orphaned cougar kitten captured southeast of Cle Elum and nursed back to health by an East Wenatchee veterinarian last week is on her way to the Denver Zoo.

The kitten is the seventh orphaned baby cougar in the state to be sent to a zoo in the last four years, said Rich Beausoleil, bear and cougar specialist for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In all but one of the cases, the mothers were believed to have been illegally killed by hunters, he said.

Beausoleil said motorists and residents first reported seeing the young cougar Dec. 4 wandering near the intersection of Highways 97 and 10, about seven miles from the edge of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

State wildlife officers chased down and caught the baby, and took her to a location in the Swauk Creek drainage where they thought her mother may have left her. But on Wednesday, the officers learned that a man had killed an adult cougar in the area where the baby was found, and Beausoleil said it was likely the kitten's mother.

So wildlife officers went back to check on the kitten and found her "running around in circles" alone, he said. They captured her by hand and brought her to Randy Hein, an East Wenatchee veterinarian, for treatment. She was slightly dehydrated and hungry, Beausoleil said.

At 6 weeks old, the cougar was too young to be released into the wild, he said. The animals usually stay with their mothers until they are 12 to 18 months old, learning how to hunt and survive.

"We can't teach an animal how to kill," he said, so the agency had no option but to find a facility to take the kitten.

Beausoleil said he sent out a notice to accredited animal facilities nationwide on Thursday and quickly heard back from the Denver Zoo, which flew the animal to Denver on Sunday.

"I hate to see an animal not being released back into the wild," he said. "But if it can serve as an ambassador to help people appreciate what's out there in the wild, then I think that has some merit, too."

The 7-pound kitten will join a second orphan, a 3-month-old cougar cub recently captured in South Dakota, at the Denver Zoo. The two will spend some time getting to know each other, then be introduced to the public in January, said zoo spokeswoman Ana Bowie. She said the zoo only has one other cougar, which is nearly 20 years old, that will be kept separate from the young ones.

"We are just really happy this is a situation where we were able to help," Bowie said of the cougar kitten rescue. "We're very excited to have her here."

Bowie said the zoo has yet to name the new cub.

In the past four years, Fish and Wildlife has sent six other cougar kittens to zoos in Memphis, Tenn.; San Diego, Calif.; and North Dakota. Three were captured in Western Washington and three in Eastern Washington.

Beausoleil said that while it is illegal to kill a female cougar with young, it may be difficult for hunters to know that a cougar has kittens. A mother cougar will often stash her young in a bush or den while she hunts. However, Beausoleil said hunters should take some extra time to observe a cougar before shooting it, to make sure her kittens aren't nearby. Also, they should check to see if her belly is dragging toward the ground — an indication that she recently gave birth — or that her teats are enlarged to indicate nursing.

"Unfortunately, hunters may do all the right things and still end up taking a cougar with kittens," he said.

[Liv2Hunt]

In all but one of the cases, the mothers were believed to have been illegally killed by hunters, he said



Come on people this should be easily avoidable. You should know what it is with out a doubt before harvesting any animal. We as hunters don't need this sort a crap in any newspaper specifically in Washington where the big city idiots who know virtually nothing about hunting reading things like this. They do vote and that is exactly why houndsmen in Washington have far different regaulations reguarding the use of hounds for anything compared to 10-11 years ago. You did not have to have to deal with the permit garabage and public safety hunts in order to chase bear or lions.

Lets all do our part and be responiseable when we are doing what we love.

[Three44s]

The Anti's live to capitalize on a story like that!!

Three 44s

[Spanky]

Unfortunately we can preach ethics and morality till we are blue in the face but unfortunately there are those out there that just flat don't care. What a human interest story to hear about kittens running around intersections and then running in circles in the woods after being released

What I would like to know is how many washington houndsmen and sportmen still continue to support the one sided liberal newspaper that printed the story by purchasing it. Maybe some letters to the editor about cancellations should be sent for printing uncomplete truths.

Also not knowing washington regs. but they definately are not spelled out enough....the fish and game department should be taking some of this blame with their poorly written and vagg regulations.

It is illegal to kill or possess spotted cougar kittens or an adult cougar accompanied by spotted kittens.

No where does it say anything about harvesting a lactating female. Not always are the kittens with the female especially when the female is out hunting.

[Liz ODell]

Well when they say hunters do they mean houndsmen or some guy out in the woods with a gun??? I know plenty of deer hunters around here that take potshots at bears all the time with no thought as to size, sex or if there might be a cub, then of course they will tell you they didn't need any dogs to kill a bear...