In late June, a homeowner in the Augusta/Hallowell area called the center to report that three small bobcat kittens were hanging around his yard, with no sight of mom. The new residents at Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center in Vassalboro are currently eating well on a menu of milk and canned dog or cat food, twice a day. Bobcats play an important role in nature’s ecosystem by regulating rodent populations. The average life expectancy is three to four years, but they have been known to live up to 12 years in the wild. ~ Jayne Winters