What does a Florida panther have in common with the New Orleans Saints or with a man who built and sold radio stations? Well, if you have the pleasure of visiting the Bear Creek Feline Center just north of Panama City, you will meet Saint, the Florida panther who was born Feb. 7, 2010, the day the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. The Saints rose from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina much as Saint is rising up from the near destruction of the Florida panther gene pool. Jim and Bertie Broaddus, who gave Saint his name, founded the Center with resources provided from the sale of several radio stations they owned.
Saint now is 4 years old and has become part of a breeding program for continuing the gene pool of these magnificent animals. Would you like to see these cats up close? Well, you can. Since BCFC is not a zoo but a habitat for the animals, visitors can see these cats in a more intimate setting than in a zoo. BCFC is open to the general public by appointment only and offers volunteer opportunities as well. The Center, founded in 2000, was grandfathered into the area as Panama City’s environs expanded. But not to worry, these cats are securely housed. Just don’t poke your fingers into any cages.
Although Saint remains an ambassador of the Center, a new smaller feline is today taking more of the headlines. A jaguarundi is a small wild cat native to Central and South America, which is believed to have migrated up through Texas and perhaps as far as Florida. Jim and Bertie Broaddus recently raised one of these cats, Yoda, alongside their house cat, Obama. To see Yoda and Obama play is a bit unusual, and it seems Obama gets the upper hand most often. You can read more about Yoda’s upbringing in an article written by Jim for the Feline Conservation Federation magazine in the May/June 2013 issue: Jaguarundi Husbandry: Keep An Eye On Your Coffee Cup!
Apparently, little Yoda likes a strong cup in the morning.
Although his initial passion for extending the Florida panther gene pool grew into a larger mission of conservation and breeding rescued and re-homed feline species, Jim has expanded the mission once again to include being the only center breeding jaguarundi in all of North America.
The center today houses 24 cats, ranging from the small Geoffrey’s cat to large panthers and cougars. Some of the resident species include Siberian lynx, panthers/cougars (puma), Geoffrey’s cat, and African servals. Jim’s “Florida Wildlife Treasures,” a unique feature of BCFC, include the bobcat, panthers, and jaguarundi. BCFC is the only center nationwide where you can see these three species in one place.
Although the sale of Jim’s radio stations provided the seed money to start the center, of which he is the director and founder, he has many other credentials. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia, a member of Phi Kappa Phi Society, a freelance writer, and a member of the Feline Conservation Federation. He also holds current licenses through the FFWCC, USDA, and USDI (US Fish and Wildlife Service), all of which support this 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Jim sees his successes in terms of the animals. He states, “With felines… no doubt the successful breeding of the jaguarundi has been notable. The fact that these little brown cats were gifted to BCFC from Russia, Germany, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands is noteworthy. Our contacts in the Republic of Panama and with ANAM (their equivalent to USF&W) are part of the networking that sets BCFC apart from the others.”
BCFC also offers volunteer and educational opportunities, helping to educate and train today’s young people to value and protect threatened and endangered felines. This is one of their core missions.
Feline Center
“We gained approval from the State Department of Education in 2010 to offer instructional services for those qualifying under the OJT/VR program. We had one graduate. The program is arduous, so it takes a special person to pursue it through,” Jim Broaddus said.
Visiting BCFC at Thanksgiving is a particularly special experience. Walking into the center recently, I heard acoustic music, smelled turkey cooking, and saw a couple of Native Americans selling handmade crafts and performing special ceremonies in honor of the day, the guests, and the animals. It was a beautiful scene of camaraderie and kindness, where everyone was welcome. My husband and I brought soft drinks, while others contributed food, gifts, or donations.
This wonderful annual Thanksgiving event is called The Rendezvous. Jim shares its history:
“The Rendezvous was an outgrowth of a traditional Thanksgiving gathering we hosted while in the radio business. The DJs either had no homes, couldn’t afford travel expenses, or were on the air and couldn’t leave town on Thanksgiving Day. We fed them as was the custom, in keeping with the care and feeding of DJs… giving ’em $200 a week and all the records they could eat!”
BCFC also welcomes its share of celebrity visitors. Jim’s friend and BCFC supporter, Tim Thomas, attended the Thanksgiving Rendezvous to enjoy the festivities and sign his new book. Tim presented DIDYANO?, which was later hand-delivered to National Geographic in Washington, DC. An accomplished author and illustrator, Tim has written several beautifully illustrated children’s books promoting animal conservation. He also assists Jim with managing the BCFC website.
Recently, Joel Sartore, National Geographic’s elite photographer, spent time at BCFC as part of his “Photo Ark” project, which aims to photograph approximately 6,000 captive species from around the world. Now more than halfway through, Joel has cataloged over 3,050 species, including the jaguarundis at BCFC. While at the Center in November 2013, Joel took a number of photographs including one of Yoda, showcasing his photogenic face!
You can explore more of Joel’s work at www.joelsartore.com. For more recent news about BCFC and Joel Sartore, see also the latest Feline Conservation Federation Journal, which features the Bear Creek jaguarundi colony.
Very soon as you drive from the Emerald Coast (Panama City heading west) to the Forgotten Coast (Mexico Beach heading east), you’ll be able to tune in to WECO – EcoRadio. You will hear Jim once again living the radio life. Last year, when the FCC opened a filing window for Low Power FM Licenses (LPFM), Jim fell “off the wagon” as he puts it, and started up this eco-station. He broadcasts directly from the Center, where he was already participating by lending his efforts regarding local weather.
The acquisition of the LPFM station will enable BCFC to underwrite future budgets to sustain the cats residing at the Center.
“The value of this new license, which permits us to reach out to tourists as they travel up and down the main North/South corridor with our message of conservation, is unique and exclusive,” said Jim Broaddus.
The first EcoRadio work session was at 10 am February 15 at BCFC. You can take the man away from the radio, but you can’t take the radio out of the man.
When I asked Jim what keeps him awake at night, Jim said, “I realize that I am not in love with cats in cages. I would much prefer to see them range in wide-open spaces. I am bugged by people who acquire wild felids as pets only to discard them midlife. We hear too often: ‘Isn’t he cute?’ or ‘Oh, I want one.’ Keeping these cats in captivity is a 24/7/365 responsibility, for maybe 20-25 years! I am horrified when I see pet fanciers, collectors, and hoarders. They should be jailed.”
When asked what keeps Bertie up at night, Jim’s reply was short: “Me!”
Although Jim’s reply regarding collectors may be controversial to some, the passion that Jim and Bertie share, and their dedication and love for these cats are undeniable. Their warmth towards the public in conveying this important work is contagious.
They might indeed be one small link in preventing the extinction of the Florida panther as a species and in the long-term survival of each of the species in their care.
Originally published at The Star, July 3, 2014.