It looks like Ash may live.
A Florida bobcat rescued by a volunteer firefighter in the Bayshore community and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation clinic on Sanibel Island seems to be in good health.
The kitten is thought to 4-to-6-weeks old, and it was found after a brush fire.
Julian Roman-Kulwicki was attending a brush fire and heard a kitten meowing as saw it crawl out of a pile of ashes.
“I went over, grabbed it and wrapped it in my jacket,” said Julian Roman-Kulwicki in a news release.
‘Stable and resting comfortably’
He affectionately named the kitten Ash.
Veterinarians at CROW didn’t find any injuries on the kitten, such as burns or other injuries.
It also seems like the kitten’s lungs are OK, but the little bobcat is being closely monitored by the CROW staff.
“Right now, she is stable and resting comfortably in our care, which is encouraging,” said Jessica Comolli, CROW’s research and medical director.
“One of our biggest concerns at this stage is the possibility of smoke inhalation. Even when animals appear stable initially, respiratory complications can develop over time, so we are monitoring her very closely. We’re very grateful to the Bayshore Fire team for bringing in this bobcat kitten to CROW.”
The 4-acre brush fire was along Orange Blossom Boulevard in Charlotte County.
‘She was cold to the touch’
The fire on Orange Blossom Boulevard at that point on May 24, 2026, is believed to have been started by lightning and span 4 acres, according to the Bayshore Fire Department.
“She was cold to the touch, so I tried to warm her up,” Roman-Kulwicki said. “I started to do research and found out it was a baby bobcat.”
Bayshore Fire Captain William LeMieux was at the station when the kitten arrived.
“I washed her off,” he said. “She was exhausted. I’m relieved the bobcat kitten is with CROW. I know she is in good hands there and hopefully will get back to the wild.”
If you find sick or injured wildlife in Southwest Florida, reach out to CROW at (239) 472-3644, ext. 222.
Chad Gillis is an environment reporter and can be reached by email at cgillis@news-press.com.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Bobcat kitten rescued from ashes of Bayshore community brush fire
Reporting by Chad Gillis, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
