Montana State supports wildlife conservation through multi-year partnership with ZooMontana

BOZEMAN - One year ago, when rescued bobcats Sonny and Goldie first arrived at their new home at ZooMontana in Billings, even a human in their sight line made them nervous.

Per zoo professionals, both kittens were exposed to forms of human-wildlife conflict that left them unable to survive in the wild by themselves.

The new environment at the zoo was unfamiliar to the anxious cats. But the animal care team at ZooMontana started small. They slowly exposed the bobcats to seeing humans around their habitat and then introduced staff-led training activities.

In time, Sonny and Goldie gained confidence - and curiosity - in their habitat. They learned, for example, how to enter a crate on command, or chase a toy on a string in exchange for a portion of their zoo-curated diet, which sometimes includes raw steak donated by Billings grocery stores.

Rescuing animals is a long-time strength of ZooMontana, according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The nonprofit zoo is accredited by the AZA for its excellence in animal welfare, veterinary care and conservation practices. The 70-acre ZooMontana opened in 1995 and is home to more than 80 animals across 50 species whose native habitat is north of the 45th parallel. Many of the zoo's regionally native animals were rescued, including grizzly bears, American bison, North American river otters and eagles.

Montana State University is playing a key role in Sonny and Goldie's conservation story. MSU - whose mascot is, famously, a bobcat - has partnered with ZooMontana to provide funding for the cats' long-term habitat while inspiring and educating the next generation of conservationists.

The bobcats' story started in fall 2025, when Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks received reports about two orphaned bobcats in different parts of the state, explained ZooMontana President Jessica Hart.

Sonny was being kept in someone's rabbit hutch in northwest Montana when a neighbor alerted FWP. Goldie was found presumably orphaned in a roadside ditch in southwest Montana.

The two cats were first transported to the state-operated Montana WILD facility in Helena. Being a rehabilitation-focused facility, Montana WILD could not act as a permanent home for the two cats. When ZooMontana learned the bobcats needed a permanent home, they stepped in and asked MSU to help.

"These partnerships allow us at ZooMontana to continue to provide quality care for the animals living here with us," said Brooke Randak, formerly the education and conservation director for ZooMontana. "For the education department, this type of partnership allows us to expand our everyday reach and introduce people to the world of conservation and ecological sciences."

ZooMontana hopes that beyond giving these animals another chance at life, the cats' story will inspire support for conservation efforts and help people be more aware of wildlife. The bobcats are still in training and being kept out of public view, but the zoo's animal care team hopes to move them to a public exhibit within the next few years.

Randak and Allyson Welborn, the assistant curator for ZooMontana, are training Sonny and Goldie to be wildlife ambassadors for their species. That means if comfortable, they will travel with zoo staff to educational events and inspire people who may have never before seen wild animals up close.

Bobcats in general are striking animals to appreciate. They have soft, thick fur with unique spotted patterns and range from 28 to 47 inches in length and 15 to 35 pounds in weight. In the wild, bobcats are nocturnal, and their diet mainly consists of cottontail rabbits and other small mammals. Bobcats generally live 10 to 12 years but can live closer to 20 years in expert care.

The bobcat has been MSU's official mascot since 1916, replacing older iterations once used for school athletes, including "farmers" and "aggies." The new mascot was suggested by the then-editor-in-chief of MSU's student newspaper, who argued for an alternative that felt western, wild and mountainous. Bobcats, he said, fit the bill.

"He does not depend on brute strength alone but upon headwork and cunning," said an editorial at the time. "Just try to softly warble that name, Bobcats. It can't be done. You have to spit it out."

Unlike other cats with desirable fur, wild bobcat numbers are increasing, and the species is not considered protected or endangered. But Sonny and Goldie's story illustrates what can happen when human development encroaches into wild spaces.

"Sonny and Goldie are a cautionary tale for many threats to conservation. Between habitat fragmentation due to urbanization and human conflict, these two cats represent the challenges that wild animals face every day," Randak said. "With our staff, we are able to share their stories and hopefully inspire people to consider wildlife and natural spaces in their daily lives."

The zoo has rescued other animals, including food-conditioned grizzly bears otherwise facing euthanasia and a bald eagle who fell victim to an unsuccessful poaching attempt, found with more than a dozen gunshot wounds.

It also currently houses several ambassador animals, including turtles, a barn owl and a ball python, among others.

Christopher Guy, head of the Department of Ecology at MSU, said that the experience of viewing wildlife in person positively impacts conservation efforts because it inspires a deeper connection between humans and animals.

"That experience makes a lasting connection that can translate into someone going into the wildlife profession or making monetary or in-kind contributions to conservation organizations," Guy said.

Places like ZooMontana increase opportunities to view wildlife, he said.

"Not everyone has the means to travel to places such as Yellowstone National Park. Thus, places like ZooMontana play an important role in allowing people to see wildlife and make a similar connection," Guy said. "Another positive aspect of zoos is the ability to provide more educational opportunities for learning about the wildlife while you are experiencing the interaction."

The Department of Ecology at MSU helps train the next generation of scientists to tackle complex conservation issues, he added, and academic engagement is another great way to aid wildlife conservation. Students interested in a conservation career can pursue undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees in ecology, earth sciences and environmental studies at MSU.

MSU President Brock Tessman said the university was thrilled when ZooMontana raised the idea of supporting the bobcats. The connection to MSU, the symbolism of the cats being rescued in the same year MSU's football team won the FCS national championship and the chance to help teach Montanans about wildlife was an opportunity that fit very well with MSU's traditions, history and land-grant mission.

"Sonny and Goldie's story is really a story about the things we care about in our land-grant mission - giving something a second chance and the opportunity to thrive," Tessman said. "That connects to the work we do every day training the next generation of Montana's leaders, and it's a good reminder that this university shows up every day for the state in a lot of different ways. We're proud to help ZooMontana give people a chance to make the connection with wildlife firsthand, and getting the chance to do it in our championship year makes it all the more fitting."