Bobcat burned by California wildfire released after successful treatment

Animal's injuries included first- to third-degree burn wounds on paws, severe emaciation

Published Oct 08, 2026  •  2 minute read

A bobcat is seen sprinting out of his carrier after he was released in Camp Pendleton in North San Diego County. Photo by San Diego Humane Society

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A bobcat that was injured in a southern California wildfire was released into the wild last week.

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The adult male feline was found suffering from severe burns and life-threatening injuries on July 28 after the Pipeline Fire, which ignited Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in North San Diego County, the San Diego Humane Society said Tuesday in a news release.

He was admitted to SDHS’s Project Wildlife program at the Ramona Wildlife Center, where he was treated for trauma and burns.

Veterinarians diagnosed the bobcat with first- to third-degree burns across all four paw pads, acute kidney injury, severe emaciation and heavy tick infestation, the SDHS said. He weighed just 7 1/2 pounds.

Animal under intensive care

Veterinarians put the frail feline under an intensive treatment protocol of fluid therapy, nutrition, pain management, wound debridement and topical burn care.

The bobcat’s paws were treated with light therapy to stimulate cellular regeneration and grow healthy granulation tissue, the SDHS said.

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Once his wounds began to heal and his lab work showed he had returned to normal, he was moved to a specialized indoor-outdoor enclosure where veterinarians monitored his mobility, gait and weight gain on remote cameras, keeping human presence to a minimum.

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Healthy feline sprints off

The bobcat, now weighing more than 15 pounds, was cleared to go back into the wild after 65 days at the wildlife centre, the SDHS said.

“Our team was committed to ensuring this bobcat could heal and return home to the wild,” said Autumn Welch, wildlife operations manager at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center. “Bobcats play a vital role in our local ecosystems by helping maintain balance and keeping rodent and small mammal populations in check. Watching a predator with injuries this severe fight his way back, regain his strength and run back into his native habitat makes every single hour of care worthwhile.”

Accompanied by a crew from Camp Pendleton, Project Wildlife staff released the bobcat not far from where he was found.

A video released by the SDHS showed him sprinting off as soon as his carrier door was opened.

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