Chips right after she was rescued from Division M and waiting to be picked up and delivered to the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc. for rehabilitaion and release back to the wild. Credit USFS
Chips was found in Division M by Madriver Hand crew Superintendent Tad Hair (pictured here holding the cat). Photo by the USFS
September 7, 2012 Update - Good news! We just received a call from Paul in Rocklin who will donate a custom 5 ft. cat tree for Chips. Thank you Paul! We'll pick it up and will deliver it to LTWC. :)
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. September 6, 2012 - Chips, the baby bobcat rescued by firefighters on the Chips Fire is on her way to recovery, according to Cheryl Millham, the Executive Director of Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC). The little kitten – barely old enough to open its eyes – was alone and confused, and surely would have perished if she had not been rescued by Superintendent Tad Hair and his crew.
Because of her still fragile condition, Chips is alone in her enclosure. Her paws are doing much better, thanks to the care she receives. Being a kitten, she needs stimulation and entertainment. LTWC would love to get her a climbing tree and some sturdy toys, Millham told YubaNet.
Chip in for Chips
Hey, YubaNet readers, let's get Chips a cat tree and appropriate toys. A tree will help strengthen her paws, give her climbing skills and, as every human owned by cat cat knows, keep her claws busy. Bobcats are about twice the size of a house cat when fully grown, so picture the kitten and her energy!
Please donate directly to LTWC, either securely online, or by phone or mail. Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc. (LTWC) is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Their Federal ID number is 94-2799765.
If you or your business want to donate a kitten-safe climbing tree, YubaNet is happy to arrange for transport. Call us at 530-478-9600 and we'll find a way to get everything to Chips.
"Chips" Photo courtesy LTWC
Chips is getting better, see for yourself
Chips is fed a diet of about a dozen mice daily. She's still too small to eat a whole mouse by herself, so the rodents are prepared for her by the center's staff. "We had people call and offer to send us cat food for Chips. While we appreciate the thought, she needs a very specific diet," Millham said. After all, she is a bobcat, not a housecat.
Chips is still being carefully monitored, because her eyesight has not completely returned. A veterinarian specializing in ophthalmology will examine her over the next few weeks to see how much progress has been made. In the meantime, Chips will make sporadic appearances on one of the webcams installed at LTWC. Check in the afternoon between 1 and 3 pm, chances are you will see the little fuzzball. You can also follow the updates posted on LWTC's Chips page.
Help us bring you more news. Be a real reader:
By submitting a comment you consent to our rules. You must use your real first and last name, not a nickname or alias. A comment here is just like a letter to the editor or a post on Facebook. Thank you.
