San Andreas, CA – A new male bobcat is calling the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in San Andreas his new home.
Named Archer, he is around 5 years old and arrived at the sanctuary earlier this month, on Sunday, September 7, 2025. Following an investigation into animal welfare violations at the Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation in Butte County, Archer was seized by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). PAWS noted that it cares for three other animals from the same facility: black bear Dally and mountain lion Casey, who were seized earlier this year, and tiger Cleo, who was seized in 2024 after she was found suffering from a painful bone disease.
Archer was held at the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue (SCWR) in Petaluma, California, while a custom-built bobcat enclosure was built at the sanctuary. PAWS disclosed that little is known about Archer’s early life, and it is unclear whether he was born in captivity or in the wild. PAWS notes that typically bobcats avoid humans, but Archer balks at that by showing his friendly, curious nature, purring loudly and rubbing against the fence when he sees his caregivers.
“It is common for animals to come to us with no known history, so our dedicated caregivers and veterinary team carefully monitor newly rescued animals to evaluate their health, personalities, and special needs,” stated sanctuary officials.
In his newly built naturalistic home, Archer enjoys elevated platforms, providing sweeping views of the trees, nearby hills, and the open sky. It’s a view he shares with his next-door neighbor, Rumi, a female bobcat that came to PAWS last year, as reported here.
