A puny bobcat, not much bigger than a domestic feline, was huddled on the road shoulder, head bowed, not moving. It let McGuire come close enough to see it was riddled, face and chest, with porcupine quills.

He took a photo of the punctured cat, then grabbed his work welding gloves and a blanket, steeling himself to face bared teeth and claws.

It didn’t happen. The bobcat meekly submitted to being wrapped in the blanket and tucked into McGuire’s truck.

He video called his wife: Is it OK if I bring a bobcat home? Christina McGuire said yes.

ALLEN MCGUIRE FOUND this young bobcat sitting alongside Leeman Road in northern Dickinson County on Dec. 11 after it obviously had been on the losing end of an encounter with a porcupine. The cat now is recovering with a wildlife rehabilitator in Houghton County. (Allen McGuire photo)

Once home in Iron Mountain, Allen and his daughter Megan’s boyfriend, Jordan, managed to pluck out some of the quills that seemed most painful for the young cat, including one in its right nostril.

“She was scared and I calmed her down by scratching her head, whispering to her, telling her everything was going to be OK,” Allen, who is deaf, stated via email. “I also held her paws so she felt secure.”

They contacted the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which advised they keep the bobcat in a pet carrier, quiet and warm, for the night until it could be picked up. “So we found a nice cat cage,” Allen said, “and gave her food and water.”

“She was amazing, awesome, calm … We thought we might have a struggle with her, but no,” he said, adding, “Our experience with this beauty will last our lifetime memories.”

That cooperative behavior continued when Anna Viau, a DNR conservation officer based in Iron County, transported the young bobcat Monday to Hancock for treatment. Other than a feeble paw slap or two, it put up little resistance as she added some branches to the carrier to give it cover to hide in during the ride.

STAFF AT THE Copper Country Veterinary Clinic in Atlantic Mine work to remove quills from a young bobcat found Dec. 11 in northern Dickinson County after tangling with a porcupine. (Submitted photo)

“She was pretty subdued … a few little, quiet growls, a few little meows,” Viau said of the trip.

By the time they arrived in Hancock, Viau was able to handle the cat with bare hands.

Though it’s tempting to think this creature recognized the kindness of strangers, such docile behavior from a wild animal usually is a sign it’s close to the end of its resources, said Beth Maata, a member of the U.P. Wildlife Rehabilitation-Keweenaw Group in Houghton County.

At the Copper Country Veterinary Clinic in Atlantic Mine, the little bobcat weighed in at a mere 4 pounds, basically skin and bones, Maata said.

Inexperience likely led the young cat to attack a porcupine, pouncing on the slow-moving, seemingly easy target only to become a pincushion from face to groin, Maata said.

Viau judged it to be only a few months old, born late in the season and way too young to be on its own. Whether it got separated from its mother or was left behind after tangling with the porcupine, it likely would not have survived much longer on its own, she said.

“Thank you to that man for being observant, taking the time” to help the cat, Viau said.

Staff at the animal hospital removed more than a dozen quills, including one that required an incision in the bobcat’s right armpit that’s “healing beautifully,” Maata said. Another quill came close to costing the cat an eye, though it looks for now like it might resolve itself in time, the wildlife rehabilitator said.

Since coming into Maata’s care, the little bobcat has been eating well and, most importantly, shown some attitude. She’s latched onto gloved hands, staked growling claim to her food and is vocalizing about being in confinement.

“That’s a good sign. We want her to be feisty,” Maata said.

And Maata intends to keep her that way if at all possible. She does not speak to the bobcat nor offer pats or other kind gestures. This is not callousness. It’s aimed at making sure the cat doesn’t become habituated to humans.

For the animal’s sake, they cannot risk it viewing people as friends. That would make all their work irrelevant if the cat is returned to the wild, as intended, only to gravitate toward humans who might kill it or become fearful about its lack of fear.

A too-friendly predator may ultimately have to be euthanized, Maata said. And this is a female, so they want it back into the breeding population.

The bobcat is expected to stay with Maata into the spring, as turning such a young cat out to the harsh conditions of winter would again put it at risk. Should it demonstrate it’s grown fond of its caretakers, Maata is prepared to show some “tough love” to keep it properly wary of people.

“Making sure they want absolutely nothing to do with humans,” Maata explained.

But when the bobcat is well enough to hopefully transfer to an outside enclosure in coming weeks, Maata will present it with live prey it can use to hone its hunting skills, as she does with the raptors she usually gets for rehabilitation for the past five years.

This, however, is the first bobcat under her care — and she’s savoring the experience. “It’s pretty amazing,” Maata said. “To watch her improve — that’s the best part. Who can say they’ve held a bobcat? I consider myself incredibly lucky.”

Bobcats — and most other predators — are not cheap to keep in captivity. Meat eaters take, well, meat. Buying just rodents can be $400 a box, plus shipping, Maata said.

But the public has been very generous since news of the porcupine-crossed little bobcat surfaced on Facebook. More than $2,200 has been donated so far for veterinary bills and care.

Others have brought venison, grouse, other normal prey for the bobcat, Maata said. It’s been gratifying to see the public response, she said.

“It really does take a whole community to be able to do this,” Maata said, adding, “I just want to give a huge thank you to everybody for helping us to be able to help them.”

To support the U.P. Wildlife Rehabilitation-Keweenaw Group, go online to upwildlife1.wixsite.com/website, which has options of selecting from an Amazon wish list or making a monetary donation. Tax-deductible contributions also can be mailed to 42057 Archambeau Road, Chassell, MI 49916.

Viau added the public should be aware only licensed rehabilitators legally can have wildlife in their care. Anyone who comes across an injured animal should contact the DNR, ideally without trying to step in on their own, as that could put both the animal or person at risk.

“The best thing people can do to help,” Viau said, “is to donate.”