On a dark night in Wisconsin, a driver faced an unexpected and harrowing situation when they struck an animal crossing the road. The driver, traveling south of Plover near U.S. Interstate 39, discovered that the animal they hit was not only alive but also trapped in the car’s grille. Upon realizing the severity of the situation, they immediately called for help. Deputies from the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Mike Lukas, responded to the scene.

The deputies were surprised to find that the animal was a bobcat that had broken through the front grille and survived. Uncertain about how to handle the situation, they called in reinforcements. Conservation Warden Bryan Lockman arrived to help free the trapped wildcat.

Bodycam footage from the scene shows the deputies surrounding the car while the Conservation officer used a pole to try and free the bobcat. The trapped and cornered animal hissed at its rescuers and occasionally swiped at them with its large paws. The deputies donned thick gloves for protection as the officer continued his efforts.

After a challenging struggle, the officer managed to loop the uncooperative bobcat with the pole and slowly pulled it out of the grille. Once free, the wildcat went ballistic, thrashing like a powerful fish on the end of a line. The officer quickly tossed the bobcat into a covered pickup truck bed, and the deputies closed the tailgate as it jumped and spun around inside.

Remarkably, the bobcat sustained no injuries from the incident. It was released back into the wild, allowing it to return to its natural habitat. Plover, where the accident occurred, is about 87 miles west of Green Bay.

This incredible story of a trapped bobcat serves as a reminder of the importance of wildlife safety while driving. By slowing down, being vigilant, and giving animals space to cross, we can help prevent such encounters and protect both humans and wildlife.

Ahisma Sweatshirt By Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection

Related Content:

• Rescued Bobcat Kittens Get Wild at Their First Halloween Party [Video]
• Pet Tiger and Bobcat Found in Texas Homeowner’s Garage
• How to Save the Bobcat – and Benefit Its Human Neighbors
• In a Matter of Seconds This Bobcat Lost Her Family – Now She’s Getting a New One Thanks to Rescuers
• Epic Moment Two Rescued Bobcat Kittens Return to The Wild (VIDEO)

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!