27-05-2025
Orphaned bobcat ‘sisters' rescued in Mission, B.C., released back into the wild
Two rescued bobcat 'sisters' have been released back into the wild.
Two orphaned bobcat kittens are enjoying their first taste of freedom after being released back into the wild, seven months after they were first rescued in Mission, B.C.
In a social media post announcing the release on Monday, the Critter Care Wildlife Society said the farewell to the two female big cats, named Teetonka and Kaya, was 'bittersweet' for staff after a cold season of bonding.
'Their first winter was full of discovery,' the post said.
'They experienced snow for the first time, hesitantly at first, but soon they were lounging in flurries without a care.'
Over the course of the seven months the kittens were given all the care and training needed to ensure they could be safely and successfully reintegrated into the wild, including a carefully managed diet that would encourage them to hunt and forage as they typically would in their natural habitat. Christmas trees generously donated to the centre had become 'perfect hiding spots' for the young hunters, helping them practice their 'stealth and stalking skills,' the post said.
'Rescued as tiny, vulnerable kittens, they grew strong and confident under our care, developing the instincts they need to thrive,' said the society.
'From playful chases to sibling tussles, they spent their days exploring and honing their natural behaviours.'
The two kittens were dubbed 'sisters' after they were found just a half-an-hour distance from each other on the same day in October. Announcing their rescue at the time, Critter Care said it was highly unlikely that they were actually from the same litter, but had become as inseparable as 'real sisters' after their rare joint rescue.
One kitten was found in a barn weighing just four pounds, while the other was rescued from the side of the road weighing less than two pounds, the rescue agency said.
'Watching them grow and develop their wild instincts has been an incredible journey for our team,' the post read.
'We are proud to have given them the best possible start, and we look forward to hearing about their adventures in the wild.'
