Nebraska mountain lion now looking for a name after 700-mile journey

Again within the fall, the massive cat made its manner from the scenic Niobrara River valley all the way in which to suburban Springfield, Illinois, in keeping with the GPS tracker that Nebraska Recreation and Parks had tagged it with a yr prior.

“Lots of people have been watching him,” stated Joe Taft, director of the Unique Feline Rescue Heart in Heart Level, Indiana, the place the mountain lion has been since October.

When the lion overstayed its welcome close to Springfield, it was sedated by federal wildlife officers, who supplied to return it to Nebraska.

So, officers turned to Taft and his sanctuary. The 260-acre sanctuary took it in and gave it an examination. The prognosis was removed from dire: a skinny scar down its again — probably from working underneath a barbed-wire fence — some ticks, and a little bit additional weight.

“I am extremely impressed with this animal; he crossed each the Missouri and Mississippi rivers,” Taft stated. “That form of dedication is uncommon.”

Since each Nebraska and Illinois deemed the mountain lion too harmful to be launched, the sanctuary started constructing a $50,000 enclosure for long-term care in November. Over an acre in measurement, the enclosure may have climbing constructions and a den space, however won’t be seen to the general public.

Taft says the method has been lengthy, however three of the 4 partitions are full and the inside is almost completed.

“The laborious half is that it is in what was once a corn discipline, so it does not take a lot rain to make it fairly moist.”

The enclosure may have a lot better drainage as soon as accomplished, Taft stated.

Within the meantime, officers have determined that NE-110 (the numbers on its ear tag) will now not suffice as a reputation for the everlasting resident.

The sanctuary has turned to the general public for assist with naming it.

Candidates embrace Capone, Abe, Little Buddy, Neil, Springfield and Omaha.

The massive cat was by no means seen in Omaha, however Nebraska’s greatest metropolis may turn into its moniker if the general public so chooses. Taft stated he did not have any enter within the identify selections.

“My keepers are those behind that,” he stated.

Little Buddy is a nod to the one that tagged the cat.

Sam Wilson, furbearer and carnivore supervisor for the Nebraska Recreation and Parks Fee, known as the mountain lion “Little Buddy” whereas it was being watched on its trek.

To vote, a donation have to be constructed from the sanctuary’s web site. Each $5 counts as one vote. The donations will fund the sanctuary’s look after the mountain lion.