January - March 2020 • Volume 64 Issue 1 TABLE OF contentscontents JANUARY-MARCH 2020 | VOLUME 64, ISSUE 1 Features 55 Contrafreeloading in Zoos and Aquariums 5 Kyle Banton-Jones explains fundamentals of “work for food” program. FCF Washington Update March 2020 8 Bill Hanka reports the Congressional timeline for us. FCF 2020 Conference, Wednesday, August 5th, 11 Through Sunday, August 9th Schedule of events and how to register for this FCF event. A History of Kisa the Lynx 15 Lynn Culver recounts a remarkable feline per- sonality. Lynx Finds Fur-Ever Home at Texas A&M 16 Wildlife Center Megan Myers describes the veterinary college’s collaborative effort to create lynx habitat. Pioneering the Use of Sand Cats as Outreach 20 Ambassadors Tonya Lowe details Hawk Creek Wildlife Cen- ter’s work with sand cats. 77 11 3232 Feline Conservation Foundation Volume 64, Issue 1 • Jan.-Mar. 2020 JOIN THE FCF IN ITS CONSERVATION EFFORTS - WWW.FELINECONSERVATION.ORG Through award-winning Journals, professional development courses, and access to professional members via mentorship program, educational presentations, and networking at annual conferences, education is key to feline sustainability. Join online at https://www.felineconservation.org/membership/join/. Features cont. Contact Us 22 The Cat World Lost a Great FOUNDER: JOURNAL STAFF: Friend in Nanette McGann Lynn Culver shares sad news of Catherine Cisin Managing Editor: longtime FCF member’s passing. Lynn Culver Good Reads for a Time of Social OFFICERS: Layout/Copy Editor: 23 Distancing and Lockdowns Eden Tran Richard Hahn reviews some President [email protected] oldie, but goodie books. Mindy Stinner [email protected] Keeping Your Business Going Vice President 23 During COVID-19 Julia Wagner Follow the Brian Braitsch suggests ways to [email protected] mitigate these trying times. FCF! Secretary Blast from the Past: TJ and Kira’s Phyllis Parks 27 Continuing Adventures [email protected] A 1995 look back at the daily life Treasurer @felineconservation of Nanette McGann’s serval and Dawn Strasser caracal. [email protected] Best Friends! 31 Sue Steffens writes about an DIRECTORS: unlikely feline couple. @conservefelines Brian Braitsch Community and Enrichment: Sue Steffens 32 Claws, Paws, and Unicorns Wendy Wallace tells how holiday Chris Tromborg leftovers can be recycled into @felineconservation enrichment for cats. Contact us by email: [email protected] Conservation The FCF is a non-profit (Federal ID#59-2048618), Geoffroy’s Cat Project Organization non-commercial society devoted to the welfare and con- 7 Kylie Reynolds shares Amazing servation of exotic felines. The FCF publishes the Jour- Animals’ program to support in nal quarterly. situ research. 4 Letter From the President Members are encouraged to donate older copies of Mindy Stinner covers COVID- the Journal, with permission of the resident, to vet Feline Conservation Foundation 19. 8 Conservation Grant 2020 offices, dental or medical waiting rooms, or public $2,000 available for in situ con- libraries or public officials, to increase awareness of the servation, says committee chair 13 Proposed Constitutional FCF, its members, and mission. Kylie Reynolds. Amendment The author’s point of view does not necessarily repre- Proposal for annual elections sent the point of view of the FCF. Reproduction of any 24 Amazing Wild Cat Research Trip and voting instructions. material in the Journal may not be made without the Saundra Michael returns from written permission of the original copyright owners Belize with understanding and appreciation of in situ research. and/or copyright owner, FCF. 33 Meeting Minutes of the FCF Display advertisement space is available at the fol- Board of Directors lowing prices: $25 business card (3.5x2.5in), $50 quar- Pictorials Minutes from July 15 through ter page (5.5x4.24in), $100 half page (8.5x5.5in), and February 27. $150 full page (8.5x11in) ad for a single issue. We offer Best Shots a 10% discount for running your ad in two consecutive 18 Submissions by Jim Broaddus, 34 FCF Board Welcomes Sue issues, or a 20% discount for running in four consecu- Gina Tkach, Jessie Campbell, Steffens as Director tive issues. Farrah Conti, Sheri Deflorio, Deb- Sue is appointed to fill vacant Submit articles on husbandry, conservation, current bie Willoughby, Chane Wallace, board seat. events, editorials, and photos for publication through the and Kylie Reynolds. members-only website link titled, "Submit Journal Entries and Photos." Copyright © 2020 Feline Conservation Foundation. All rights reserved. Some material is reprinted with permission of other copyright holders. 3 Feline Conservation Foundation Volume 64, Issue 1 • Jan.-Mar. 2020 Letter From the President Dear friends, So, I’m going to share what we are An annual fundraiser we depend on has doing here at our Animal Park at the Con- already been cancelled. That event has I hope this issue finds us all in a world servators Center instead. consistently provided funding to help us settling down after the first wave of the I made sure my household has the sup- branch from seasonal winter holiday pandemic COVID-19 has passed. plies we need so we don’t have to go events to warmer days when the daffodils No doubt we are all hyper-vigilant shopping again right away. and crocuses bloom and visitors eager to about personal hygiene, wiping down sur- We are ensuring our business has the get outdoors and see animals begin to faces, and maintaining social distancing. supplies it needs, secure supply lines, and arrive. This year COVID-19 hit during We are likely all a bit stir-crazy right now reliable substitutes for all items we have that time when we are already lower in from being stuck at home and have caught trouble replacing. visitation. up on email, gotten overwhelmed by We are reminding our employees and We have limited work hours for our everyone’s social media dramas, and volunteers that they should avoid coming part-time employees and guest relations hopefully binge-watched something fun. here if they are sick, have traveled over- staff. I know we are all grateful this virus has seas, or have any reason to believe they We have turned to social media to bring not yet made the leap into felids, but, if have been exposed to any contagious res- attention to our situation. We are building you are like me, you have decided to over- piratory illness. We have backup plans creative online fundraisers and working to protect your animals anyway. I step out of should several key employees get sick at build excitement about events we hope my shoes when I step into my house and once. will be able to happen in the future. tuck them away where my cats can’t We are constantly monitoring govern- We have reached out to our established access them. I change any clothes I wore mental guidance and adapting our work- donors, asking them to help sustain us to town or to visit my friends, knowing I place practices. We are an open-air rural through this time. The ones that have am also visiting their pets. Perhaps I am park, so remaining open is fine for us at contributed have already sent heartening overcompensating for feeling out of con- this time. Conveying being open is itself messages of support, encouraging us. I trol of other areas of my life… but per- a challenge, because we need for our visi- know some of them work in businesses haps it’s just prudent. tors to understand that we are aware of the that may have layoffs if this goes on for an It seems like everyone else wants to tell concerns and are mitigating them as well extended period. us all what we should do. I’ve gotten as possible. It’s not just about us. I’m checking in notifications from the CDC, the Depart- Business continuity is a major concern, with other facilities and owners, to make ment of Homeland Security, FEMA, our so we have to plan for significantly sure they feel secure and don’t need help. state government, our vets’ offices, my reduced visitation or closure for eight And I’m writing this letter to you. doctors and dentists, every business col- weeks or more. We are not taxpayer-fund- I hope that you feel secure and the ani- laboration we work with from chambers ed and are not wealthy. Our proceeds are mals you care for are safe. of commerce to associations of non-prof- reinvested in our park constantly. The Please consider sharing your experience its, and they all give us the same basic idea of closing indefinitely is frighten- of adapting to life under COVID-19 advice. Hand washing, social distance, ing—I’m committed to the care of this restrictions on our Facebook members- avoiding mass gatherings with people collection and to providing for the people only page, or in photos and articles in this from other places. Things we should do. who help do that work. Journal. We would like to hear about your preparations, adaptations, work- Surviving Covid-19 Impacts to Wildlife Exhibitors Checklist arounds, unexpected surprises, and solu- tions. •Review business continuity plans with an eye for possible long-term impacts of this The Board of Directors is committed to event. updating the organization to make •Consider people, data, operations, inventory, equipment, and buildings. processes more streamlined and easier to •Calculate how long your facility can remain solvent if closed to the public. manage with fewer committed people. •Review insurance policies to understand business interruption coverage for pandemic We are working toward balancing our tra- events. ditional way of doing things in an organi- •Consider what additional revenue streams or loans may be available. zation established before computers were •Apply for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program which provides low-interest invented with a process built for today’s loans to cover operating expenses after a declared disaster.