CLEVELAND — A new furry friend has made his way to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
On Tuesday, the museum announced that Diego, a 1-year-old northern bobcat, is now at its Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden after arriving in March from a private donor. Officials say so far, Diego is adapting well to his new home.
Diego was born on March 15, 2022. He currently weighs 11 pounds, but is expected to reach the average weight of an adult male bobcat, which is 15–30 pounds.
The museum says Diego spent his first month in quarantine, which is routine as he becomes accustomed to new caregivers, diet, and surroundings. "We are taking the process slowly and steadily and following Diego’s cues,” says Jim Nemet, the museum's director of wildlife. “Diego is a smart and adaptable youngster with a keen curiosity. Our guests will surely enjoy watching his playfulness as he continues to develop and learn in his new surroundings.”
In the future, Diego will get a chance to interact with the museum's other bobcats, Bob and Bitty, who have been at the wildlife center since 2002. Through visual introductions from separate habitats, museum wildlife specialists have noted positive interactions and interest in one another. Officials say the bobcats’ comfort levels and behaviors will dictate how quickly or slowly they progress to physical introductions.
Ultimately, the goal is for all three bobcats to share outdoor exhibit space, giving guests the opportunity to see them together every day. For now, visitors can see Diego during his outdoor exhibit rotations with Bob and Bitty.
The museum adds that bobcats are native to Ohio and sightings in the Buckeye State increased dramatically beginning in the 2000s, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources/Division of Wildlife. While bobcats are rebounding in Ohio, it is very unlikely to see one in the wild now since they are mostly active at dusk and dawn.
Check out the Cleveland Museum of Natural History's video of Diego below:
