An orphaned bobcat was released back into the wild on Wednesday after spending the past year in rehab.

According to an X post from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), officers released the orphaned kitten into the wild in the San Luis Valley after it was taken to CPW’s Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center last year.

The bobcat was found on a ranch last year. The landowner observed the animal for a few days, but never saw a mother bobcat in the area. The kitten appeared to be on its own. It was then taken to a rehab facility in northern Colorado, which contacted CPW rehab facility manager Michael Sirochman.

CPW said that experience has shown that bobcats are “more successfully able to go from rehab back to the wild when paired up.” The facility had another orphaned kitten from Montrose at the time this bobcat was taken to the facility, so the two were paired up.

The two kittens were held together at the Frisco Creek facility, and learned how to socialize together. Eventually, they learned to hunt their own prey. The bobcat from Montrose was released earlier this month, according to CPW.

“We want to thank the landowner who originally acted to save this animal only after it was clear there was no mom in the area,” wrote CPW in the X post. “We also want to thank our private rehab partner who first took it in and coordinated with CPW to give it the best possible chance to return to a wild life.”

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)