Rescued Bobcat Now Calls Upper Tampa Bay Home

TAMPA, FL — There’s a new cat in town. Bobcat that is.

Kitchi, a one-year-old male bobcat, has been officially released back into the wild at Hillsborough County’s Upper Tampa Bay Regional Park. The critter, who will now get to roam a secluded section of the 580-acre park at 8001 Double Branch Road, didn’t have the best start to life.

According to the county, Kitchi, whose name means “brave” in Algonquin, was found alone, dehydrated and underweight in a Hillsborough County field last year. A resident spotted the kitten, estimated to be about 4 or 5 weeks old, in June 2015 and brought him to Kris Porter.

Porter, the head of Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife, called on the nonprofit organization to nurse the kitten back to health. As Kitchi grew stronger, he was sent to the Louisiana Bobcat Refuge to learn the ins and outs of being a bobcat in the wild, a county media release said.

Kitchi took to the training well and was returned to Hillsborough County this week. He was released into the park’s acreage on Aug. 10.

Upper Tampa Bay Regional Park serves as a perfect place for Kitchi to stretch his legs, Brian Evarts, senior park manager, said. The park has a good mix of trees, native vegetation and salt and freshwater habitat that is perfect for bobcats, he said.

“I always get emotional,’’ Porter was quoted by the county as saying after Kitchi's release. “It’s an incredible feeling to know that you were a part of something so big that so many people were involved in from start to finish.’’

Bobcats are found throughout Florida. The creatures live a nocturnal life, making them a relatively rare site in the wild. Their distinct pointed ears and short “bob” tail make them stand out from other native cats.

To find out more about Owl’s Nest, visit the sanctuary’s website. To find out more about Upper Tampa Bay Regional Park, check out the county’s website.

Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County