Vets send bobcat back to wilderness.

• Position: NEWS

Byline: John J. Monahan

WORCESTER - A snarling male bobcat with a dislike for humans was set free in western Massachusetts yesterday after being nursed back to health by veterinarians at the Tufts Wildlife Clinic and caretakers at the New England Science Center.

The wild, 20-pound animal was rescued in November after being struck by two cars on Route 8 in western Massachusetts.

A team of veterinarians at the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton repaired broken teeth and implanted two steel plates to replace the bobcat's pelvis, which had been broken in three places.

After six weeks of recuperation and treatment at the wildlife clinic, the patient - nicknamed "Bob" - was cared for at the New England Science Center until it was strong enough to fend for itself in the wild.

"It's very gratifying to be releasing him on a nice spring day," said Dr. Gretchen Kaufman, assistant director of the Tufts clinic.

The cat was secured in a hard plastic travel cage and placed in a van to make the 2 1/2-hour trip back to its home hunting grounds in the far western part of the state.

Kaufman said it was apparent the cat needed a few minutes to figure out what was happening after the cage was placed on the ground and the door was opened. Then the animal walked out and headed straight into the woods. As it disappeared into the trees, a woodpecker let out a shriek - alerting other animals that the predator had entered the wilderness.

Kaufman said the cat had regained strength in its injured legs and should be able to fend for itself quite well.

"He has full capabilities to climb trees and chase prey," she said. "He's going to do fine."

The bobcat was struck twice by cars before it was found lying unconscious by a passer-by, who put it in the back of a pickup truck, said John Spaulding of the science center. The man then parked at the Berkshire Mall and went in to shop. While he was shopping, the animal regained consciousness and jumped out. Local animal control officers managed to get hold of it, using a noose on a long stick, and took it to the Berkshire Animal Hospital.

It was then transported to the wildlife clinic in Grafton. There he was treated by Doctors Kaufman, Mark Pokras, Randy Boudrieau, an animal surgeon, and Laural Levan, an animal dentist.

Although the cat remained hostile to humans throughout its recovery, Kaufman said its caretakers and doctors would miss it. "We've been responsible for him since November, so we all got attached to...