Blind mountain lion cared for at Wildworks center
Our sightless cougar
By Mollie Hogan Special to The Acorn

RESCUED- Pirate the mountain lion arrived at the Nature of Wildworks wildlife care center in Topanga mangy, skinny and injured. After surgery to remove a diseased eye and plenty of TLC, Pirate is happily residing at the center.

The Nature of Wildworks, a nonprofit wildlife care and education center in Topanga, strives to provide the best care possible for all its resident animals. As a rescue center, founded in 1995, we receive our share of injured critters with broken wings and limbs, head trauma, even blindness.

But in all my years of experience I've never had an animal come into my care in such atrocious condition as a young mountain lion we call Pirate.

Pirate arrived at Wildworks in September 2003 at the age of 8 months. He weighed only 35 pounds when a cougar his age should have weighed 80. His hipbones protruded and the pads on all four feet were bleeding. His fur was rough and patchy, the tip of his tail was missing and his right ear was notched, probably from a fight.

Adding insult to injury, we noticed there was something wrong with his eyes. The right eye was 10 times normal size and the left eye appeared injured. We immediately took him to our veterinarian and an animal ophthalmologist. Pirate's problem was diagnosed as severe glaucoma in the right eye, causing him pain much like a human's migraine.

Surgery was immediately performed to remove the eye. He awakened from the anesthesia purring like any normal kitten.

We watched Pirate closely and after a week's rest in his airline kennel in my living room, his paws healed and he started gaining weight. A recheck and further examination confirmed that his left retina was detached and there was mild glaucoma in the remaining eye, which would also have to be removed. Pirate would be completely blind.

Heightened senses

What kind of life is in store for a blind mountain lion? Cats rely heavily on their vision, so I was concerned about his quality of life. After observing his behavior, we concluded that he appeared to be adjusting. Like a blind person, his other senses took over. He learned the boundaries of his enclosure, and the location of food, water, toys and humans.

Now an adult, Pirate's feet step lightly and he points his nose upward when he walks to smell what's ahead. His favorite toys are paper towel rolls that he can easily bat and grab with his claws. He recognizes individuals by voice, scent and even the sound of footsteps, and calls to us for attention.

But what I find most interesting is that when I sit down in his enclosure, he walks over to me purring and then immediately locates the back of my neck. He hasn't bitten it (yet) but instinct tells him to go there.

Learning from a cat

Even though there are wild cougars in California, most people have never seen one and often mistake bobcats for mountain lions. In the Santa Monica Mountains, an increasing lack of wildlife corridors is severely limiting the cougar population.

When Pirate was younger he was a part of our educational outreach programs. There are many lessons the public can learn from him.

Seeing Pirate up close can help people identify mountain lions and instill a desire to protect them. As a disabled individual who works hard and purrs constantly, Pirate teaches people that disabilities don't have to be limiting. Also, being blind has made Pirate a better listener. I'm sure we can all benefit from that lesson.

Instilling the caring instinct

Maybe the most important thing Pirate can teach people is how to care. Pirate was born in captivity and his history is unclear. The facilities we normally come into contact with treat their animals with care and respect. Obviously, Pirate came from a different kind of place.

Fortunately, Pirate is at Wildworks now and he'll receive the love and care he requires for the rest of his life. If ever an animal deserved lifelong quality care, it's Pirate.

Founded by Mollie Hogan in 1995, the Nature of Wildworks provides interactive wildlife educational programs to enhance the public's understanding of nature and the environment and to ensure lifetime quality care for the abandoned, orphaned and nonreleasable animals in the group's care. For more information, visit www.natureofwildworks.org.