Sleeping with the big cats
Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue and Educational Center, located in Rock Springs, Wisconsin, just 20 minutes Southwest of Wisconsin Dells, has held different events from Trick or Treating, Boozin’ with the Big Cats, and now offer Sleeping with the Big Cats, well sort of.
Jeff and Jenny Kozlowski, started the rescue in 2006, knowing it would be a lot of hard work and take unrelenting dedication, but both noted, they are happy making a difference in their cats’ lives- lives that would certainly have ended in euthanasia.
The rescue, a non-profit organization for large predatory cats like lions, tigers, and leopards, depends on donations and volunteers, to provide a safe and healthy home to live out the rest of their lives in peace. Holding events has always been paramount in their fundraising efforts to ensure the organization’s future.
According to their website, the mission of Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue is to provide a safe place and a comfortable home for abused, neglected, and unwanted big cats, and to educate the public about these extraordinary animals, and the actions that necessitate the need for a Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue & Educational Center.
Driftless Now published an article back in October 2019 titled “Trick or treat with the Big Cats...whaaa?”, http://bit.ly/WiscBigCatRescue highlighting a fundraising “Trick or Treat” event. This year, the Kozlowskis have decided they would not hold the event due to Covid concerns and their interest in keeping all visitors safe including the big cats.
When I interviewed Jeff at the 2019 Halloween event, he shared the couples planned expansion of their facility that sits on thirty acres. Since, two cabins have been built that are available as rental units.
“The red one is our Family Cabin that’s geared more towards families with kids,” Jenny said. “There's a play area loft for the kids to play in, a TV and stuff up there. It's basically kind of like a mini house. It has a full kitchen and basically everything that you would need in there.”
For adults only, that are looking for a quick and unique get away, the rescue’s Spa Cabin is a great choice. The cabin features a spacious shower/hot tub and all the amenities for a relaxing stay. In addition, each cabin has its own deck, gas grill, and fire pit enhancing an outdoor experience. The main attraction, of course, are the big cats and the beautiful view from both cabins overlooking the cats’ enclosures.
Guests staying in the cabins have access to see the cats until the rescue closes to the public for the day, which is usually around five pm.
Guests are treated to a specialty tour the morning after check-in to watch the cats be fed. “Our cabin guests just have to walk out their cabin door and meet us down here for the feeding tour. They can come out here in their pajamas, robe, or in whatever they want,” Jenny said chuckling.
The cabins opened for occupancy in May of 2020, but then the pandemic hit. “There was the shutdown and everything where ourselves could not be open, but since it was kind of like a hotel, they allowed us to open that up, so they could rent the rooms and stuff and then they had the park to themselves so they didn't have to deal with the public or anything like that. So, that first month was incredible because everybody wanted to get away to somewhere different, and the experience and they don't have to share something with somebody else. So, 2020 May was our best month because of that, and then once we opened up to the public, which would have been Memorial Day weekend of 2020, the cabin rentals kind of started to slow down because they knew that they were coming down to see the cats, they kind of had to share it with everybody else. We did do some rentals during the winter. All the upkeep is a lot of work with plowing to keep everything open and clear, but we're still going to rent them out. This next winter, because we actually close the rescue once we get our first big snowfall continue to rent the cabins out during the winter so cabin guests will have the rescue to themselves, they just have to bring boots and be prepared to walk in,” Jenny said.
The rescue has three new additions that include a tiger cub named Harley, and two African Servals. The other rescued cats come to them from far and wide. “We’ve gotten them (cats) from as far away as Texas. We did a big rescue in Indiana one time. Animal Planet did a documentary called “The Tiger Next Door”. That was us down there picking up those cats,” Jeff said.
Caring for several White Siberian tigers, Bengal tigers, Leopards, and Lions, does not come cheap. “With the big cats, you have vet care and food bills. I’d say those are our biggest issues. They get fed and get their vet care, but you’re always worried about something else. When you have 20 some cats and you have a bad year and 6 or 7 get sick, the bills pile up pretty quick, but we are able to sustain this place. It’s doing the fundraisers and everything we do to make sure that we are able to take care of the animals that keeps the place going,” Jeff said
Big cats have big appetites and with the rescue no longer receiving food from their regular meat supplier, donations are even more vital. “Since we don't get the meat from them anymore, we actually have to go to the store and buy it, and the cheapest right now is 94 cents a pound. We go through about 250 pounds a day, so it adds up pretty quick,” said Jenny. The rescue is accepting meat donations this year as well. Jenny said the rescue will accept any meat even freezer burned meat so long as it is raw and still frozen.
Jenny also stated that deer hunters can help the rescue with meat donations, “We take deer meat donations too. Hunters can donate meat, as long as it's cold enough temperatures outside.” Jenny stressed that donated deer must be gutted and skinned when dropped off at the rescue. Hunters should follow signs just past the rescue’s entrance that will guide them to a drop off tank. Some of the meat Jeff and Jenny will freeze right away, and some will be fed to the cats right away.
Jeff and Jenny are hoping the cabin rentals will raise enough money to finish their vet and educational center that will allow for on-site vet care. Currently, the Kozlowskis have to sedate their cats and take them Madison or Lodi for proper vet care, and noted that the more technical surgeries are performed at a veterinarian school in Madison, Wisconsin.
To help support this organization, visit http://www.wisconsinbigcats.org/, or vist Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue and Educational Center on Facebook. Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue and Educational Center has a wish list of items on their website that you may donate. Any donation $50 and over qualifies as a tax deduction.
