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Bobcat hit by car released from wildlife center months later

Nahal Amouzadeh | namouzadeh@wtop.com

March 3, 2018, 7:51 AM

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A bobcat is recovering after it was hit by a car on Thanksgiving and driven about 50 miles to Richmond while it was lodged into the car's grill. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control) (Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control)
WASHINGTON — The bobcat hit by a car on Thanksgiving and taken on an hourlong drive while stuck in the car’s grill is now back in the wild.

She was released from the Wildlife Center in Virginia Friday afternoon.

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The Wildlife Center of Virginia selected the New Kent County, Virginia, release site with the help of a wildlife biologist from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Due to the secretive and potentially dangerous nature of bobcats, her release at 3 p.m. was not open to the public, the Wildlife Center said.

The bobcat’s journey to recovery started on Thanksgiving. After being hit by a car in Gloucester County, Virginia, and getting lodged in the car’s grill, she was taken on a 50-mile ride to Richmond.

She suffered multiple injuries, including bruised lungs, a fractured jaw, a cut to her back and temporary vision issues caused by head trauma.

Though she was fully recovered in February, Dr. Ernesto Dominguez, hospital director at the center, said they were going to wait until the first week of March, the end of hunting season, to release her.

The bobcat was released in New Kent County, Virginia, on Friday. (Courtesy The Wildlife Center of Virginia)
The bobcat was released in New Kent County, Virginia, on Friday. (Courtesy The Wildlife Center of Virginia)
Courtesy The Wildlife Center of Virginia
A bobcat is recovering after it was hit by a car on Thanksgiving and driven about 50 miles to Richmond while it was lodged into the car's grill. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control)
The bobcat was hit by a car on Thanksgiving and driven about 50 miles to Richmond while it was lodged into the car’s grill. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control)
Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control
A look from afar of the car that struck the bobcat. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control)
A look from afar of the car that struck the bobcat. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control)
Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control
The cat was recently sedated and underwent a complete set of radiographs, blood work and urinalysis. (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
The bobcat was sedated. (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center
The cat was recently sedated and underwent a complete set of radiographs, blood work and urinalysis. (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
She was treated at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center
The cat was recently sedated and underwent a complete set of radiographs, blood work and urinalysis. (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
The cat underwent a complete set of radiographs, blood work and urinalysis. (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center
The cat was recently sedated and underwent a complete set of radiographs, blood work and urinalysis. (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
Bobcats live throughout the U.S., but typically stay away from humans.  (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center
This female bobcat, pictured on the day of her rescue from the car's front grill, is estimated to be about 5 years old. Bobcats live throughout the U.S., but typically stay away from humans. (Courtesy Wildlife Center of Virginia)
The female bobcat, pictured on the day of her rescue from the car’s front grill, is estimated to be about 5 years old. (Courtesy Wildlife Center of Virginia)
Courtesy Wildlife Center of Virginia
The bobcat is being treated at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control)
The bobcat had a wound along her back, bruising of the lung tissue and head trauma. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control)
Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control
Ortiz said the bobcat is recovering and doing a lot better. "She's bright and alert and definitely feisty, growls at you.” Ortiz said the bobcat will be released back to the wild in Gloucester County, close to where the accident happened, later in December. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Control and Care)
Due to the secretive and potentially dangerous nature of bobcats, her release at 3 p.m. was not open to the public. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Control and Care)
Courtesy Richmond Animal Control and Care
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The bobcat was released in New Kent County, Virginia, on Friday. (Courtesy The Wildlife Center of Virginia)
A bobcat is recovering after it was hit by a car on Thanksgiving and driven about 50 miles to Richmond while it was lodged into the car's grill. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control)
A look from afar of the car that struck the bobcat. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control)
The cat was recently sedated and underwent a complete set of radiographs, blood work and urinalysis. (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
The cat was recently sedated and underwent a complete set of radiographs, blood work and urinalysis. (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
The cat was recently sedated and underwent a complete set of radiographs, blood work and urinalysis. (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
The cat was recently sedated and underwent a complete set of radiographs, blood work and urinalysis. (Courtesy Virginia Wildlife Center)
This female bobcat, pictured on the day of her rescue from the car's front grill, is estimated to be about 5 years old. Bobcats live throughout the U.S., but typically stay away from humans. (Courtesy Wildlife Center of Virginia)
The bobcat is being treated at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Care and Control)
Ortiz said the bobcat is recovering and doing a lot better. "She's bright and alert and definitely feisty, growls at you.” Ortiz said the bobcat will be released back to the wild in Gloucester County, close to where the accident happened, later in December. (Courtesy Richmond Animal Control and Care)

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