DISTRICT TWP., BERKS COUNTY, Pa. — The last of three African wild cats to escape from a rehabilitation center has died, the center said in a Facebook post Tuesday.
A storm last month carried wind gusts up to 47 mph throughout the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas, bringing trees and branches down.
It also damaged several enclosures at the Cricket Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, a few miles from the Lehigh County line and Alburtis area, letting the African serval cats escape.
"It is with heartbreaking sadness that we report the final cat was hit by a car this past evening. She was very much loved and will be deeply missed."
The center recovered two of the servals less than a week later.
Early Tuesday, the wildlife center shared on Facebook that the last cat died Monday evening.
"It is with heartbreaking sadness that we report the final cat was hit by a car this past evening," the post says. "She was very much loved and will be deeply missed.
"Thank you to everyone for your help. To the dozens of people that joined the searches, to the over 100 calls reporting sightings, and to everyone in between.
"This is not the outcome we wanted but we take solace in the fact the other two are home and safe because of the dedication and compassion of this community."
'We couldn't have done it'
Wildlife center owner Melissa Descant credited the community for its support in locating the first two cats.
The initial Facebook post announcing the cats escaped was shared more than 1,500 times with more than 200 comments, some offering support and others volunteering time and resources to aid in the rescue.
Nonprofit organizations such as Mighty Paws Humane Society also helped Cricket Wildlife Center rebuild enclosures while it searched for the missing cats.
"It's been really great having [the community] when we need it," Descant told LehighValleyNews.com last month. "We couldn't have done it without them so far."
The third cat which Descant described as shy, scared and likely to hide, remained on the loose for weeks.
The center said Tuesday it will contact residents with their live traps or cameras to pick up and to disarm the traps and remove the bait.
