SASKATOON — Bobcats Sherlock and Watson were recently introduced as the newest members of the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo. The brothers were born in 2021 at the Zoo Sauvage de Saint Felicien in Quebec and are just under one year old.
“We are very fortunate to have Sherlock and Watson join the zoo family. The pair arrived safely at the zoo and will be introduced to their new temporary home in the vacant eagle exhibit before transferring to their permanent home later this summer,” said zoo manager Jeff Mitchell.
Bobcats get their name from their short, bobbed tails and are found mostly in mountainous forest regions of North America. They weigh anywhere from 6.5 to 18 kilograms and can jump over three metres high.
Their diet consists mainly of rodents, birds and fish, and they are known as ambush predators that stalk and hunt their prey with an element of surprise.
Preparations for the arrival of the bobcats began this spring with renovations to the previous lynx exhibit. The former lynx exhibit is being transformed into a new space for the bobcats that will feature a new house and a dedicated play area for the bobcats to enjoy.
For now, Sherlock and Watson will get to enjoy exploring the caves and terrain in the vacant eagle exhibit until the renovations to their permanent home are completed this summer.
Zoo visitors will notice a perimeter buffer surrounding the temporary bobcat exhibit. This buffer helps to maintain physical distance between the public and the bobcats as cat species such as bobcats and lynx are susceptible to COVID-19.
“Taking precautionary measures like maintaining a safe physical distance is an important part of keeping our animals safe. The level of risk among species varies, and we take every necessary step to ensure the health and safety of the animals in our care,” said Mitchell.
The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit saskatoon.ca/zoo to plan your next visit or learn more about the zoo season pass.
