Brad was found on the side of the road and initially cared for by Toni Haydel Spillman, a member of one of the oldest families in Bluff Swamp. His rear left leg had been shattered by a car, but a year later, in April of 2006, he was released into his new habitat, which was built especially for him in memory of Toni's mother, Vera Edmonston Haydel. While Brad is able to walk and run, he is unable to leap. Without this essential bobcat survival skill, he cannot be returned to the wild.

Illegal poaching and misunderstanding threatened the survival of this magnificent native wildcat and led to our bobcat restoration effort. We have also acquired, through purchase, a young, domestically bred bobcat who is being groomed for our educational program. We hope to introduce Brad and Lazzie someday, so that visitors may see these amazing predators at only an arm's length away!