Sept. 27, 2012 — A baby bobcat rescued at Sierra Army Depot (SIAD) was taken to the wildlife shelter in South Lake Tahoe where he joins Chips, who was rescued from the Chips Fire in Plumas County.

Separated from his mother, Sierra arrived at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc. (LTWC) about a week and a half ago. He is 10 weeks old, two weeks older than Chips.

According to Lori McDonald,  SIAD public information officer, Sierra’s mother gave birth to four kits and was in the process of relocating them from where they were born to a safe place, but she left one kit behind.

McDonald said SIAD’s pest control officer explained humans had been where Sierra was found, and if a bobcat smells humans, it won’t go near the area.

The officer trapped Sierra and transported him to LTWC and keeps up to date on his progress.  According to McDonald, the mother and the remaining cubs are still at SIAD. They are being monitored to ensure people stay away from them.

According to LTWC executive director Cheryl Millham, staff is waiting to hear the results of a fecal test on Chips, because she had coccidia, parasites in the intestinal tract. If the results are negative, it is expected Chips and Sierra will be moved to the same cage at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 28.

People can watch Chips and Sierra’s meeting by going to  ltwc.org,  click on the webcam link and access camera eight, according to Millham.

To date, there are no pictures of Sierra because LTWC staff said he keeps himself hidden.

Chips gained national attention after she was rescued by a Mad River Hand Crew who spotted her during patrol and mop-up operations on the north end of the  Chips Fire that burned in Plumas County.

Chips was about the size of a domestic kitten and seemed to have impaired vision, possibly due to smoke and ash in her eyes,  and burns on her paws. Her whiskers were curled and singed and she also had three burns on her back and one on her stomach.

Millham said Chips is doing great. Her paws and other burns have healed and she sees perfectly.

She is eating well, too. Chips came to the shelter weighing about one pound, but is now almost three pounds.

When she first arrived, the kit was fed pulverized mice, but she is now eating small whole mice. However, Millham said both Chips and Sierra have decided they love rabbit, which is more expensive.

LTWC is a nonprofit organization run by volunteers, "whose function is to raise, rehabilitate and release orphaned and injured wild birds and animals." The organization is operated under permits authorized by the U.S. Department of Interior and Wildlife Services, as well as California Fish and Game. There are no fees associated with the acceptance and care of animals, "nor is any animal refused care.”