The Days After Hurricane Irma

Monday September 11, 2017.  It may be 9-11 but we didn’t have to call 911.  Big Cat Rescuers went out at 4PM, 7PM, 8PM, 9PM-11PM, 3AM and 7AM and we are still out there.

 

The worst of the damage was done to the metal awning over the tour waiting area when a tree became completely uprooted and fell onto the cabana and the corner of the gift shop.  We heard it hit at 3AM and Big Cat Rescuers, Jamie, Dr Justin, Kathryn and Victor ran out to secure the area and make sure the bobcats who live in that area, Moses and Bailey, were safe.

 

We didn’t see the next bit of major damage until after checking to be sure all lions, tigers, leopards and cougars were secure.  We then walked all of the small cat areas to be sure no trees had snapped off, leaving holes in the caging.  A HUGE branch came down on Pharaoh the white serval’s cage, but the way our cages are built, it just crushed the rounded cage, like a coke can, but did not leave a hole in the cage for escape.  Pharaoh has about four cages hooked together, and could have fled into any of his other rooms, but instead he was just laying there, looking out from one of his dens, at the damage as if to decide whether or not he liked the look.

 

We had been so worried about Little Dove, our most elderly cat at the age of 24, but by 7AM she had left the tree stump den she used over night, to get back on her Coolaroo.

 

All the ailing cats, Babycakes the genet, the rats and Cooper Bobcat did fine with Gale over night.  Cooper was taken back out and released into his rehab enclosure, but he will be kept in the small side until we figure out what’s going on with Hurricane Jose.  All the domestic cats and foster kittens did fine in the Gift Shop overnight; as did the volunteer’s dogs.  Most are going home, if they have power.

 

We have power at the north end of the property for Food Prep, the Gift Shop, the Kitten Cabana and volunteer housing at the north end.  We have no power at the south end which includes all intern housing, both sets of offices, Gale’s house, Kathryn’s house, Karma’s house, Lauren’s house and my house.

 

There was a tree down across Easy Street this morning so no one could get in or out.  That took a while to cut up with a chain saw and haul off.  Now we are turning our attention to the pumps to move some water.  We have cancelled tours for today and maybe tomorrow too.

 

See our photos and videos from Hurricane Irma here:  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m0wvwgqoy3q5rht/AAD15KG1YyTLXIFp2mR8S-0Ua?dl=0

 

https://youtu.be/xScXRy3F_SM

 

Hi, I’m Carole Baskin and I’ve been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views.  These are my views and opinions. If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story.  The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/

 

I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story.  My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet.  

 

You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile!

Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile

 

You can see photos, videos and more, updated daily at BigCatRescue.org

 

Check out our main channel at YouTube.com/BigCatRescue

 

Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertainment purposes only and is my opinion.  Closing graphic with permission from https://youtu.be/F_AtgWMfwrk