Review of Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue
https://www.wisconsinbigcats.org
This is a feline rescue center situated in Rock Springs, Wisconsin, a small town that’s about 25 minutes away from Wisconsin Dells. Originally founded by a couple almost 20 years ago in March 2005, the establishment started out as a place where one could get photos taken with big cats, but that was quickly phased out upon discovering the conditions, stress, and reality that the animals are faced with. The focus switched to that of a rescue center, taking in 26 big cats just within the first year of operation. The facility to this day continues to take in felines big and small from previous conditions such as private owners or cub photo-ops in exchange for a more natural way of life.
I usually don’t go to zoological facilities such as this, but I will admit since I was in the area, this place sparked my curiosity, mostly for the liliger which I’ve never seen before (let alone any other feline hybrids). For what this Sanctuary is, I had an enjoyable couple of hours; however, what I really got out of it was a new outlook and perspective on places such as this, especially for what may eventually come down the line.
Big Cat Exhibits – All of these enclosures share a very similar design that is reminiscent to those I saw at the DeYoung Family Zoo. Looking through the fencing, one will see a grassy space that is packed with foliage, enrichment items such as large tires and balls, and cement furnishings like tunnels or platforms. They are nicely designed to give the cats privacy, and it’s neat how they almost look like natural habitat that was simply enclosed with a fence; this is especially noticeable with the tall grasses, bushes, and more. My only comment would be that the size of the exhibits, with a couple exceptions, range from slightly small to average for their occupants. These habitats wouldn’t compete with most others that I’ve come across, but as is, they work fine for their occupants, and the viewing is nice and close. Species list: African lion, tiger (including Amur, Bengal in both orange and white variants, and even an Amur-Bengal hybrid), and a liliger (a first for me).
Small Cat Exhibits – A trio of servals can be found in a pair of exhibits with a very intriguing design. The first is a wood and wire cage for a single female (that I didn’t see) that appears basic at first glance, but it is lushly planted and goes surprisingly far back to provide as much space and privacy as possible. The second habitat is more successful as it not only contains more plants and climbing structures, but the size is impressive for the male-female pair (I saw one serval in this enclosure). It combines a wood and wire cage with another cage that has a low ceiling, and even a corn-crib cage within that cage to add some height! It’s an interesting combo that may not look naturalistic, but again it works for the cats to encourage natural behavior and to get away from the crowds if need be. Across the pathway, a male Canadian lynx (didn’t see) occupies another wood-wire cage that is also a decent size.
This place truly is in the middle of nowhere! After going through the tiny town of Rock Springs, followed by endless hills of countryside, one will enter the Sanctuary - a patch of lush green pasture on an incline, dotted with natural vegetation. A large, colorful entrance sign greets visitors, followed by a tiny parking lot, a set of bathrooms, and finally the ticket booth. All of this is located in the middle of the hill, overlooking the small loop of feline enclosures – in fact it’s easy to see practically the entire Sanctuary from one spot. As for the amenities, they are minimal, which is understandable considering the size of the Sanctuary. In addition to the entrance area (where a few snacks and drinks are also sold), there is a gift shop in the center of the loop in the form of an open-air shack full of memorabilia focusing on the cat residents. The most unique feature is at the top of the hill; not only are the owners’ homes situated up there, but there are cabins for guests to spend the night too. I’ll bet it gets pretty spooky hearing the thunderous roar of lions in the pitch black!
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: One of the perks of this facility is that guests can pay an extra fee to give a feline of their choice a daily enrichment item, which can be either a frozen chicken to chow down, or a scented box. I paid for a chicken, which ultimately was given to Parker, one of the Sanctuary’s Bengal tigers. The poultry was placed in the habitat, and the striped cat was let out to search for its food. He eventually found it, stretching his massive frame up to the concrete platform, and proceeded to devour it in the grass. I also witnessed a couple other tigers get fed which made for a unique comparison between individuals in how they ate, and how protective of their quarry they were.
OVERALL: The potential future of this rescue facility made me reflect on not just my thoughts on Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue, but other businesses similar to this. I overheard an employee chatting with another guest about how state laws are slowly but surely phasing out big cats being used for purposes of shows, pictures, someone’s pet, etc. As a result, the number of cats available will dwindle down to the point where establishments like this may cease to exist. In this case, one possible road that the Sanctuary is considering going down is a local rehab center for animals such as raccoons. With a future on the line, we can only appreciate the duties and missions these facilities have to remove the cats from undesirable conditions. To give them a second chance to roll around in the grass, prowl up and down tree trunks or other structures, and simply live as natural as possible. It is a long road before it all becomes a reality, but at this point in time, these places are at the animals’ service for a continuous good quality of life, and while I’ve always respected sanctuaries or rescue centers for providing this role, my visit hit me hard with that fact.
With all this said, Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue is a place that I wouldn’t consider going out of the way for, but it does a good service for predators in need, and what it does accomplish, it does a nice job. My highest recommendation would be if one is interested in felines – they’ll enjoy seeing the ferocious predators up-close, and possibly paying for the enrichment program for a little extra fun. Plus, it’s not every day one gets to see a liliger!
https://www.wisconsinbigcats.org
This is a feline rescue center situated in Rock Springs, Wisconsin, a small town that’s about 25 minutes away from Wisconsin Dells. Originally founded by a couple almost 20 years ago in March 2005, the establishment started out as a place where one could get photos taken with big cats, but that was quickly phased out upon discovering the conditions, stress, and reality that the animals are faced with. The focus switched to that of a rescue center, taking in 26 big cats just within the first year of operation. The facility to this day continues to take in felines big and small from previous conditions such as private owners or cub photo-ops in exchange for a more natural way of life.
I usually don’t go to zoological facilities such as this, but I will admit since I was in the area, this place sparked my curiosity, mostly for the liliger which I’ve never seen before (let alone any other feline hybrids). For what this Sanctuary is, I had an enjoyable couple of hours; however, what I really got out of it was a new outlook and perspective on places such as this, especially for what may eventually come down the line.
Animal Exhibit Complexes
Big Cat Exhibits – All of these enclosures share a very similar design that is reminiscent to those I saw at the DeYoung Family Zoo. Looking through the fencing, one will see a grassy space that is packed with foliage, enrichment items such as large tires and balls, and cement furnishings like tunnels or platforms. They are nicely designed to give the cats privacy, and it’s neat how they almost look like natural habitat that was simply enclosed with a fence; this is especially noticeable with the tall grasses, bushes, and more. My only comment would be that the size of the exhibits, with a couple exceptions, range from slightly small to average for their occupants. These habitats wouldn’t compete with most others that I’ve come across, but as is, they work fine for their occupants, and the viewing is nice and close. Species list: African lion, tiger (including Amur, Bengal in both orange and white variants, and even an Amur-Bengal hybrid), and a liliger (a first for me).
Small Cat Exhibits – A trio of servals can be found in a pair of exhibits with a very intriguing design. The first is a wood and wire cage for a single female (that I didn’t see) that appears basic at first glance, but it is lushly planted and goes surprisingly far back to provide as much space and privacy as possible. The second habitat is more successful as it not only contains more plants and climbing structures, but the size is impressive for the male-female pair (I saw one serval in this enclosure). It combines a wood and wire cage with another cage that has a low ceiling, and even a corn-crib cage within that cage to add some height! It’s an interesting combo that may not look naturalistic, but again it works for the cats to encourage natural behavior and to get away from the crowds if need be. Across the pathway, a male Canadian lynx (didn’t see) occupies another wood-wire cage that is also a decent size.
Visitor Experiences
This place truly is in the middle of nowhere! After going through the tiny town of Rock Springs, followed by endless hills of countryside, one will enter the Sanctuary - a patch of lush green pasture on an incline, dotted with natural vegetation. A large, colorful entrance sign greets visitors, followed by a tiny parking lot, a set of bathrooms, and finally the ticket booth. All of this is located in the middle of the hill, overlooking the small loop of feline enclosures – in fact it’s easy to see practically the entire Sanctuary from one spot. As for the amenities, they are minimal, which is understandable considering the size of the Sanctuary. In addition to the entrance area (where a few snacks and drinks are also sold), there is a gift shop in the center of the loop in the form of an open-air shack full of memorabilia focusing on the cat residents. The most unique feature is at the top of the hill; not only are the owners’ homes situated up there, but there are cabins for guests to spend the night too. I’ll bet it gets pretty spooky hearing the thunderous roar of lions in the pitch black!
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY: One of the perks of this facility is that guests can pay an extra fee to give a feline of their choice a daily enrichment item, which can be either a frozen chicken to chow down, or a scented box. I paid for a chicken, which ultimately was given to Parker, one of the Sanctuary’s Bengal tigers. The poultry was placed in the habitat, and the striped cat was let out to search for its food. He eventually found it, stretching his massive frame up to the concrete platform, and proceeded to devour it in the grass. I also witnessed a couple other tigers get fed which made for a unique comparison between individuals in how they ate, and how protective of their quarry they were.
OVERALL: The potential future of this rescue facility made me reflect on not just my thoughts on Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue, but other businesses similar to this. I overheard an employee chatting with another guest about how state laws are slowly but surely phasing out big cats being used for purposes of shows, pictures, someone’s pet, etc. As a result, the number of cats available will dwindle down to the point where establishments like this may cease to exist. In this case, one possible road that the Sanctuary is considering going down is a local rehab center for animals such as raccoons. With a future on the line, we can only appreciate the duties and missions these facilities have to remove the cats from undesirable conditions. To give them a second chance to roll around in the grass, prowl up and down tree trunks or other structures, and simply live as natural as possible. It is a long road before it all becomes a reality, but at this point in time, these places are at the animals’ service for a continuous good quality of life, and while I’ve always respected sanctuaries or rescue centers for providing this role, my visit hit me hard with that fact.
With all this said, Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue is a place that I wouldn’t consider going out of the way for, but it does a good service for predators in need, and what it does accomplish, it does a nice job. My highest recommendation would be if one is interested in felines – they’ll enjoy seeing the ferocious predators up-close, and possibly paying for the enrichment program for a little extra fun. Plus, it’s not every day one gets to see a liliger!
