Back in July I highlighted a very special conservation research project for which veterinarian Dr. Nadine Lamberski had just received an Ocelots grant award (see Valerie’s blog, In Search of the Black-footed Cat). The generous award allowed Dr. Lamberski (pictured in a makeshift lab) and her colleagues from the U.S. South Africa, and Germany to begin planning for continuation of the study in November of 2006.

November is here, and the pursuit of the elusive black-footed/small spotted cat is currently under way. Dr. Lamberski and the rest of the research team have spent the last 12 days roaming the arid South African landscape. Their days begin in the dark of night and continue into the predawn hours, with hopes of tracking down the elusive wild feline. Nadine has kept staff abreast of the team’s adventures, and most importantly their successes, with locating, trapping, and ultimately releasing the cats for the purpose of aiding in their survival. In turn, she and I would like to share them with you!

Following is a recent e-mail from Dr. Lamberski recounting the first days of their journey:

3 NOVEMBER: Due to the rain and unfavorable road conditions, we didn’t start to trap until today. It took four hours to bait and set all forty traps at dusk. Although we were hopeful that we would catch a cat by dawn, we trapped a single yellow mongoose. The booger (or little rocket) escaped while we tried to confine him in the trap with blankets so I could inject him. All in all, it was a very disappointing day, but we re-baited and reset the traps at dusk and remained hopeful.

Went to Berly’s house that evening for dinner – lots of good food, good drink, and bad jokes. On the road again at 5:30 a.m. to check traps. Trap #2 had a mongoose. Phillip and I were processing that animal (no escapes this time!) and then we heard over the radio that there was another mongoose in trap #6. Mongoose share their territory and prey items with black-footed cats, so sampling other carnivores helps to identify disease concerns in the target species.

Then another radio call, a Cape fox in trap #9. We decided to release the mongoose in #6 and head for the fox (a bit more unusual capture). Later we would know that a total of five mongooses (geese?) had been trapped overnight.

4 NOVEMBER: Up again at 5:30 a.m., still hoping for a cat. Now it’s freezing and windy; the weather is so unpredictable. Two mongooses today: another escapee (we joke that we let the first one go on purpose – hard to get moving that early!!) and a pregnant one that we were able to fully process despite the wind. Now it’s time to re-bait the traps.

The moon was spectacular last night.

5 NOVEMBER: This morning we trapped another three mongoose and a bat-eared fox (pictured). It was much warmer with no wind. Still no black-footed cats but we have another capture method (plan B) we plan to try in a few days. Rain is anticipated (based on the appearance of a ground dwelling termite), so who knows what will happen. Nadine

Valerie Stoddard is the senior administrative assistant at the Wild Animal Park’s Harter Veterinary Medical Center.
Nadine Lamberski is a veterinarian at the Harter Veterinary Medical Hospital.

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