Charlie’s Christmas Story is About ‘Gift’ing

MERRY CHRISTMAS – HAPPY NEW YEAR – HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! Wishing everyone the BEST in Health & Happiness!!

After conversations with several of my friends, relating my recent activities between late Sunday afternoon and yesterday afternoon, scrambling around with the proper authorities and then Jersey Jays Taxidermist to complete my task, several of my friends used the word GIFT!!

“GIFT” (I’m thinking here) I believe my Open Space Story can be woven into my annual CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY GREETINGS email!

Before we begin, lets look at several factors. Part of the CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS – Tis the Season, giving and receiving gifts!! The ole saying, “Better to give than to receive!” Keeping these concepts in mind, now lets add the scope of this incident. This incident begins as a sad event, but then quickly begins to transform as it traverses the gamut of possibilities! Finishing with the word “GIFT”!

MY STORY

Sunday, December 19^th I am just driving around doing one of my ‘Looking for Stuff’ leisurely trips. Backroads to Belvidere, crossed the bridge into Pennsylvania and then followed River Rd. all the way up and through the Delaware Water Gap staying along the River almost to Shawnee where I decided to go up Rt 209 to make better time, getting up to Dingman’s Ferry toll bridge for the return trip south through the National Recreation Area.

Driving north on Rt 209 in Pennsylvania, just south of where the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area begins I passed by what looked like a bobcat partially in the road. Turned around and confirmed same, must have just been hit and it was in excellent condition! What a shame! However, quickly I am thinking, “What a beautiful display for my Open Space programs and presentations!” These are not seen very often!! Etc., etc., etc. It is late in the afternoon, I decide to bag same and continue making arrangements later on. The trip home was a rush, need to keep this cool etc. After several phone calls, including one to NJ Fish & Game – Non Game & Endangered Species it became clear I would need to speak to the PA Game Commission and get a tag for this bobcat, otherwise no taxidermist will be able to touch it!

LONG STORY SHORT

Did meet with Pennsylvania Game Commission Ranger and purchased the bobcat for $100.00 including getting the tag for the pelt so others could work legally on same. Dropped the bobcat off at Jersey Jays Taxidermy in Newton, NJ He advised everything looked in good condition. He also was very helpful in freezing the entrails so that I could transport same to Gretchen Fowles, NJ DEP Fish & Game, Non Game and Endangered Species, who is assigned to bobcat studies, down at Round Valley Reservoir Office for DNA and other tests.

DID YOU KNOW?? – A single bobcat needs about 20 miles of territory in which to roam, as it hunts for food and mates. Then, from 1978 to 1982, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife launched a restoration project to reintroduce the bobcat to the state. Scientists captured 24 bobcats in Maine and released them in Northern New Jersey.

So in closing, My 2021 Christmas Gift from Mother Nature will be returned sometime in 2022 when I will be able to share that nice Bobcat display with everyone, bringing the elusive and secretive Bobcat front and center for people to see up and close at my Open Space Displays!! I have included several bobcat photos I had taken in Worthington State Forest, the last photo is the same mount my bobcat will be posed in.

**So, if you don’t mind, in this case, I am going to amend the above old saying, “It is better to give than to receive” TO “It is better to receive AND then give back to Everyone!”