After its hind feet became frozen on railroad tracks in British Columbia, a wild bobcat found itself in a precarious situation. Fortunately, the unfortunate animal was given a second chance owing to a quick rescue by a train crew. However, it was not an easy rescue because a train was set to pass by in a matter of minutes, and the terrified animal was tough to approach.
For Coby Reid, a train inspector in Trail, BC, and his coworkers, it was just another day at the workplace. The team started inspecting the tracks as part of their daily routine very early in the morning. The crew must ensure that the trails are clear of any impediments. It wasn’t like that this time, though. They noticed something stuck on the tracks just as they were getting near the Columbia River.
The males recognized there was a bobcat as they came closer. Coby and his colleagues initially assumed the wild feline didn’t want to leave because its meal (a duck, which it most likely hunted) was right in front of it. They soon discovered, however, that the bobcat is unable to escape. Its paws became stuck to the rails because of the intense cold.
With less than half an hour until the next train arrived, the crew knew they had to move quickly if the helpless bobcat was to be rescued. As a result, they decided to approach the animal with caution, cover its head with one of their jackets, and then set it to go. However, the rescue proved to be significantly more difficult than they had anticipated, as the bobcat became agitated when the crew approached it. Nonetheless, the dedicated men are eventually successful in releasing the poor animal!
“At first, we approached it with the intention of covering it up with a coat,” Coby explained to Radio West. “It wasn’t the cute kitten in the photo,” says the narrator.
The rescue was even captured on camera, and Coby later posted an update on Facebook. He added, “Saved this little fellow today as he was enjoying his food (duck) and froze to the rail.” “We got some warm water and freed him up,” says the narrator.
