12-week-old bobcat dies of burns at WSU

Pullman

A bobcat kitten that has been struggling for life at the Washington State University veterinary hospital has died of complications from burns.

Amber, who was 12 weeks old, died despite extensive efforts by WSU veterinarians, staff and volunteers, the school said Tuesday.

The kitten had been burned on more than 30 percent of her body, and had undergone two surgical procedures to relieve scar tissue contractions.

The bobcat suffered her injuries when some timber slash piles near Omak were burned over the Memorial Day weekend. Veterinarians believe the kitten was part of a litter that was born in the logging debris.

Amber was doing well until Monday, when the animal began to scratch and gnaw at the scars, a common occurrence with such injuries. A staff member discovered that the bobcat had accidentally lacerated her femoral artery and was near death.

“When a veterinarian works with wild animals that suffer extensive injuries, death is often the outcome, unfortunately,” said Nickol Finch, the veterinarian who heads up WSU’s Exotic Animal Service.

“Still, we are frustrated and saddened by Amber’s death; she had become a favorite among our staff and volunteers and was doing very well considering her injuries,” Finch said.

Lewiston airport lands $876,000 federal grant

Lewiston The Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport has been awarded a $876,000 federal grant to help pay for a new generator, additional fencing and a card-key access entry system.

About $46,000 from Nez Perce County and the city of Lewiston will also support the project, which was approved by Nez Perce County commissioners earlier this week.

The upgrades were designed to bring the airport into compliance with federal standards created after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

“This project has been a long time coming,” said Robin Turner, airport manager. “This was part of a master plan and a series of projects, but then Sept. 11 came along and changed a lot of that by federal mandate.”