FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPTIVE WILDLIFE INSPECTIONS FORM Ref #: FWSW13OFF8751 Inspection Date: 07/25/2013 Time: 3:00PM Classes: I II III County: Hillsborough Activity: ESA ESB ESC Ven ROC PPL PPNC Rehab Permittee: Carole A. Baskin DOB: 06/06/1961 Business Name: Big Cat Rescue Sex: M F Phone: (Business) 813-920-4130 (Emergency) Same Mailing Address: 12802 Easy Street Facility Address (if different): Same City Tampa State FL Zip 33625 City Tampa State FL Zip 33625 Location Lat/Lon: N ° . W ° . Email: Inspecting Officer: Lt. Steve DeLacure / Inv II. Daryl Amerson Person Accompanying: Carole A. Baskin Reason for Inspection: Initial Routine Complaint Follow Up Previous Problems NOT Corrected Complaint #: 8751 Nature of complaint: Exceeding the 180 time limit for rehabbed animals. Citation Issued: No. (1) N/A Warning Issued: No. (1) N/A Violation(s): No violations noted previous violations have been corrected. CHECKLIST: (For those marked explain in comments below) 1). Sufficient perimeter FENCE NOT provided 11). NO Safety entrance for CLASS 1 & 2 wildlife 2). Enclosures DO NOT MEET/EXCEED caging requirements 12). PERIMETER/BARRIER fences NOT provided If not, provide date of acquisition 13). Complete WRITTEN records NOT kept up to date as required 3). Animals NOT PERMANENTLY marked - VR, ROC, other 14). FOOD & WATER containers NOT clean 4). Cage doors NOT key LOCKED 15). Proper DIET not provided per species 5). Cages, Paddocks, pools appear NOT to have been CLEANED, 16). FOOD SPOILED or CONTAMINATED for any animal RAKED, SCRUBBED, & DISINFECTED within prescribed 17). INSUFFICIENT food & water schedules 18). Transport cages DO NOT MEET transport requirements 6). Fecal & food waste NOT properly STORED/DISPOSED OF 19). INFANTS/JUVENILES only at this time 7). Enclosures DO NOT provide adequate surface water drainage 20). ELEPHANT ride without required authorization 8). Animals DO NOT appear to be HEALTHY (not including rehab) 21). NO Critical Incident/Disaster Plan 9). NOT free of wounds, injuries, skin irritations (not incl. rehab) 22). Contact information for contiguous land owners/neighbors NOT in 10). Animals NOT PROVIDED adequate protection from extremes Critical Incident/Disaster Plan (Class I possessors) Of Temp 23). CIDP – Part B – NOT on site Of Weather CURRENT INVENTORY (Species): See attachment regarding the inventory at this facility. COMMENTS: On September 6, 2012, Investigator 2 James Manson and I (Investigator 2 Daryl Amerson), were assigned a captive wildlife complaint/inspection at 12802 Easy Street in Tampa, Florida. The facility is commonly known as Big Cat Rescue, Inc. The licensee for this facility is Ms. Carole Baskin. Over the last several years, there have been repetitive complaints, primarily, third-hand, hear- say complaints, alleged via email, by several complainants. The complaints allege that Baskin continues to violate state captive wildlife laws, and further, that the Commissions’ commercial trade investigators, fail to take proper actions. The natures of these complaints are summarized below: Live Stream internet feeds of native FL wildlife under active wildlife rehabilitation, are offered for public view, via the internet. Feeding of live prey animals to predatory wildlife under active wildlife rehabilitation, in violation of Animal Cruelty Statutes. FWCDLE 602 (01/10) Page 1 of 7 Facility perimeter fencing does not meet state requirements. Emergency evacuation plan for the facility. Flooding of animal enclosures and failure to meet minimum structural strength requirements for captive wildlife. Concerns of escape of large Felids from the facility. FWC’s Plan of action for an escaped animal from this facility. Facility has been issued numerous warnings and is continuing to operate a substandard facility. On September 12, 2012, Investigator 2 James Manson, Captain Leandro Isambert, and I, conducted a thorough facility inspection and focused on the aforementioned allegations/assertions that continue to be made. We made contact with the permittee, Baskin and explained the current complaint allegations. Baskin escorted us into her facility so that we could address the complaints made against this facility. Live Stream internet feeds of wildlife under current wildlife rehabilitation: There is one live feed of a bobcat on www.youtubecom/watch?v=0w7pmuvDmo which is of a bobcat named “Hope.” This site, at one time, was posted on a protected site. Prior to this occurring, unknown person(s) have reposted it under the above link. Baskin has no control over this video. It is to be noted that the feed was done prior to the facility receiving a written warning. Several of the web sites links listed by the complainant, appear to not be under the care and control of Big Cat Rescue, Inc. Other live web sites listed by complainant are as follows: http://bigcatrescue.org/2010/bobcat-kittens-the-outside-world Bobcats “Midnight, Rain and Storm,” were non- native, originated from Alabama. http://www.youtube.com/user/BigCatRescue/videos?sort=dd&view=0&page=4 Bobcat is not under wildlife rehabilitation.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb2dwl7z2PA Marked private , non- violation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW7pmvv_Dmo Marked private, non- violation. http://vimeo.com/channels/bigcatrescue/14805317 Bobcats “Midnight, Rain and Storm,” were non- native, originated from Alabama. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xeqtoe_bobcat-kittens-the-outside-world_animals Bobcats “Midnight, Rain and Storm,” were non- native, originated from Alabama. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xe32wo_bobcat-kittens-vs-rats-chicks-mice_animals Bobcats “Midnight, Rain and Storm,” were non- native, originated from Alabama. http://www.fight.tv/videosection/tag/Bobcat%20Kitten Bobcats “Midnight, Rain and Storm,” were non- native, originated from Alabama. http://www.openfilm.com/videos/bobcat-kittens-the-outside-world/ Bobcats “Midnight, Rain and Storm,” were non- native, originated from Alabama. www.bigcatrescue.org Bobcat “ Rufus”, non- native, originated from South Carolina. [email protected] Bobcats “Midnight, Rain and Storm,” were non- native, originated from Alabama. http://zomobo.net/graphic-world-live Not Big Cat Rescue site. http://www.rtbot.net/graphic_world_live Not Big Cat Rescue site. http://www.stupidvideos.com/video/animals/Bobcat_Kittens__2011_Rehab_UPDATE/#334552 Bobcats “Midnight, Rain and Storm,” were non- native, originated from Alabama. FWCDLE 602 (01/10) Page 2 of 7 http://bigcatrescue.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/bobcat-kittens-the-outside-world/#more-5822 Bobcats “Midnight, Rain and Storm,” were non- native, originated from Alabama. http://article.wn.com/view/2012/07/03/Fla_inmate_released_to_nursing_home_p/ Not Big Cat Rescue site. http://wn.com/big_cat_rescue,_this_video_shows_scenes_of_live_animal_predation Not an animal under wildlife rehabilitation. http://bigcatrescuer.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html Removed, non- viewable. http://www.viddler.com/profile/bigcatrescue Alabama bobcats and South Carolina bobcat as listed above. [email protected] Not Big Cat Rescue personal photographer web site. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msK0ISCdPe0 Bobcat “ Faith” released was placed prior to FWC warning Baskin’s has blocked this site now. She was unaware of this site still out on the internet. Lieutenant George Wilson of the Internet Crime Unit will be conducting a thorough search and date collection to attempt the verify ownership and control of these web site links. To include the date and posting of same. Feeding of live prey to wildlife under active wildlife rehabilitation in violation of Florida Animal Cruelty laws: The Commission’s command staff has reviewed this matter and have consulted with the State Attorney’s Office, Hillsborough County, and the State Attorney declined to file any formal charges for animal cruelty stating that it was not in violation of this Florida Statute. The prey items (rabbits) are purchased from a facility/vendor that propagates these animals as consumptive food product. These rabbits are not intended for the pet trade industry. Big Cat Rescue uses these live prey items to hone the rehabbed animals hunting skills and instincts for future release into the wild, an industry standard practice. Perimeter fencing does not meet state requirements: The perimeter fencing (Commonly called Rhino Fencing) traverses the 55 plus acre facility with no break or damage of same. The perimeter fencing meets/exceeds the minimum standard requirements for this purpose. Emergency evacuation plan for the facility: Permittee, Baskin, maintains an FWC Critical Incident/Disaster Plan on file with the Commission as required. Baskin has an additional standard operational plan for site security, evacuation medical emergency for animals and humans, accordingly. Flooding of animal enclosures and failure to meet structural strength of same as required by state law for captive wildlife: There are low lying areas at this facility and run off and drainage issues have been addressed. Flooding of the enclosures and structure failure is not an accurate statement depicting the status of the enclosures at this facility. In fact, the caging enclosures on this facility meet and/or exceed state captive wildlife requirements for Class I and II Felidae. FWCDLE 602 (01/10) Page 3 of 7 Escape of large Felidae in Tampa: Permittee Baskin has chemical immobilization equipment on site as well as lethal devices to address an escape. The Commission’s Commercial Trade Investigators