Evin Rude (“Evi”)
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Born: estimated July 2, 2016 (exact date is unknown) Arrival Date: January 2, 2017, from Walden’s Puddle in Joelton, TN
Evi has the trademark of a cat’s personality—she plays favorites. If she likes you, her feline affection will show. If she doesn’t, she will stay as far away from you as possible. She and her brother were found as kittens next to their deceased mother, although her brother did not survive past kittenhood. A rescuer took them in but soon realized bobcats do not make good housepets, so Evi soon moved into the care of a rehabilitation center.
After joining our care, Evi made national news. In June of 2019, someone broke into the nature center and allowed her to escape. She wandered the Chattanoogan wilderness for a week, but, thankfully, she was found after having freely walked back into her enclosure. This scary experience showed us that Evi feels safe in our care, and we have since heightened security measures.
Evi is visible to the public in our Native Animal Exhibit. She can be viewed by the public during our Wild Wonders: A Close Encounter with Native Animals tour every Friday and Saturday.