05/29/2026
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” — Anatole France
We had the pleasure of meeting up with our Friends’ board member Larry Larson and DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center's wildlife interpreter Nate Hambel and resident wildlife supervisor Alicia Biewer. The three all shared a special love for “Kitty,” the resident bobcat who lived at the wildlife center for 18 years.
Kitty had many admirers across our animal-loving community, from staff and volunteers to donors and visitors, alike. (Larry is one of those long-time supporters and biggest fans, plus a cat lover, too!)
What makes moments like these special is that we all agree Kitty was happiest in his final two years at the wildlife center. During this time, the bobcat’s caretakers were fortunate to witness a major modification to his living quarters and the ensuing changes in his temperament and demeanor.
In 2022, the first of many innovative improvements began at the wildlife center — including the retirement of non-releasable resident animals to off-exhibit spaces designed to reduce stress and support natural behaviors — and Kitty came into his own.
Perhaps Alicia said it best in her penned reflection, “I’m so thankful Kitty was able to spend his last two years in his new habitat. He was away from the public eye and thoroughly enjoyed retirement. We saw a major change in his behavior once he moved in.
“He was calmer, he no longer paced, and he was able to relax and enjoy his enrichment in peace. He would lay on his favorite hammock or platform and look off into the trees. We even set up bird feeders to attract entertainment when we weren’t around.”
The young bobcat was admitted to the wildlife center in 2007 after suffering an injury from being struck by a vehicle in southern Illinois. He lived to be approximately 20 years old, much longer than his counterpart at only an estimated 3 to 5 years in the wild!
