Baby bobcat found among brush burned by Lee County fire

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- While our WINK News cameras were behind the fire line with crews fighting a large brush fire Friday morning, one of our photographers spotted a baby bobcat.

The bobcat was hiding in the burned brush, alone.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials say he’s about two weeks old. Our WINK News photographer was actually one of the first to hear him.

Firefighters on scene were able to rescue him, giving him water and providing shade.

FWC says he’s definitely a bobcat, probably one of several kittens living out here.

“The white spots on the back of the ear here. Real diagnostic of a bobcat,” said Mark Lotz, an FWC biologist.

They also say he’s lucky to be alive with only minor bumps and bruises.

“It feels singed, little on the head too. It’s possible, you know, the fire just burned over him. I don’t see or feel any major blisters or burns or anything. There is a little blister on the paw so the ground must have been hot,” said Lotz.

FWC says they hydrated the kitten and left him in a green area. They believe his mother will find him. Wildlife officials will return Saturdayand check the area. They say if they take the kitten and raise him, he could not be returned to the wild.