Blandford Nature Center recently issued the following announcement.
EMERGENCY UPDATE: We're asking for our community's help in the search for our female bobcat, Artemis, who escaped from her enclosure yesterday evening. Although this enclosure was approved for both bobcats by the Michigan DNR and USDA and alterations had been made following the previous escape, Artemis is intelligent and figured out how to open a latch leading to the main enclosure from their secure temporary one and managed to slip through a different spot. This is following her escape two weeks ago, which we believed to be her brother Apollo at the time.
Once again, due to her age and size, it is unlikely she will be a threat to humans or most animals. Artemis is roughly the size of a large house cat and her prey would range from rabbits to squirrels and smaller. At this time, the main concern is for her safety. These two young bobcat siblings lost their mother in a car accident shortly after they were born and would not be able to survive in the wild on their own - they live at Blandford for this reason.
We have notified local police and the DNR. We're asking our community to keep an eye out in your neighborhood and please report any sightings to the GRPD non-emergency dispatch line at (616) 456-3400 and they will notify us directly. Our phones and social media are not monitored 24/7, so please use only the non-emergency police line for updates. Do not attempt to capture her and please contact the police immediately before calling the news. This will help us minimize the amount of time spent in a live trap and reduce the amount of stress she experiences.
Our male bobcat has been placed in a temporary secure shelter at John Ball Zoo until more alterations can be made to the enclosure. You can read more about how to identify Michigan's native cat species by following this link: bit.ly/3GSZWLd
Original source can be found here.
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