ROAR! Minnesota's Wildcat Sanctuary Expands Footprint

Minnesota's Wildcat Sanctuary just made a big move that they've been dreaming about for years, and it came as a surprise, so they acted quick to make their dream a reality.

The Wildcat Sanctuary is a 501(c) non-profit that takes in a variety of wildcats that need rescuing from bad situations, for instance, they took 4 big cats from the controversial Tiger King Park in Oklahoma, which was the topic of a popular Netflix documentary.

A Dream Come True

Tammy Thies, the founder of the Wildcat Sanctuary, posted the exciting news about a huge land purchase the sanctuary just made. Thies says that when she was leaving the sanctuary for the day, she noticed a for sale sign on the property just north of them, a property that they have been trying to buy for years.

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More Than Tripled Their Footprint

The sanctuary is located on Little Sand Road in Sandstone, MN, and before the new land acquisition, the sanctuary owned about 40-acres, but with this purchase, they more than tripled their footprint.

Thies said in a social media post about the purchase, that she has been trying to buy the property for years, but with no luck. So when she noticed the sign, she immediately called the realtor and was shocked to find out it wasn't just the 40-acres she was trying to buy, but a huge 120-acre plot of land.

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Moving Quick to Make a Deal

The Wildcat Sanctuary's board of directors and donors quickly reacted and bought the 120-acres, this now gives the sanctuary more than 160-acres, making it one of the biggest sanctuaries in the United States.

Thies says the main goal of the land is to "protect current wildlife and the sanctuary, leaving the wild just that: wild. This will also ensure a natural buffer around our sanctuary." They say that "there may be more in the future", but for now the land will remain undeveloped and a place for supporters to "reconnect with nature."

They’ve already set up trail cameras around the new property and captured some amazing shots of a black bear and a bobcat making themselves at home.

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