# A new Darwin Award honorable mention **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 24, 2019, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740 "2019-09-24T04:54:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/1 "2019-09-24T04:54:48Z")
Whenever you think that people can’t get any more stupid, the world is happy to prove you wrong. > [@](#): > > According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a Colorado Springs woman spotted an injured bobcat on the side of the road and decided to put it in the car where her child was seated. She was doing so in attempt to get the animal help. > **[Colorado Springs woman puts injured bobcat in car with child](https://gazette.com/news/colorado-springs-woman-puts-injured-bobcat-in-car-with-child/article_648b6630-db12-11e9-9ce5-cbb0574aa8d4.html)** > > If you see an injured wild animal, don’t pick it up or try to help. Call Colorado Parks and Wildlife instead. Wild animals can be unpredictable and dangerous. Fortunately for the child, the cat was too severely injured to actually do anything. I fully expect to see this woman in the news again someday. Such creative stupidity can be only (temporarily) suppressed, not cured. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/2 "2019-09-24T06:17:14Z")
I heard that one on the news. Try as we might, you can’t fix stupid. My best wishes go out to her child - may he or she live long enough to escape. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/3 "2019-09-24T10:34:38Z")
Yeah, but … is the bobcat okay? Focus on the important stuff, people. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/4 "2019-09-24T14:18:51Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Yeah, but … is the bobcat okay? > > Focus on the important stuff, people. That’s all I wanted to know, too. Unfortunately, in the article the cat was referred to as being mortally wounded, so no, not okay. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2019, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/5 "2019-09-24T20:31:48Z")
The proximate cause of death was euthanization by a wildlife official after she determined the hind legs were paralyzed. ---
**Author:** ![mandala](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mandala/32/95_2.png) [@mandala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandala)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/6 "2019-09-26T12:12:16Z")
Don’t know nothing about bobcats. Are they dangerous? Maybe the lady thought it was just a large regular cat. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/7 "2019-09-26T12:48:06Z")
I don’t know anything about bobcats either. But I wouldn’t put a regular cat, especially if of unknown temperament and clearly injured, in the back of a car with a child - would you? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/8 "2019-09-26T14:10:40Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > I don’t know anything about bobcats either. But I wouldn’t put a regular cat, especially if of unknown temperament and clearly injured, in the back of a car with a child - would you? Nice username/post combo. If any cat knows cats its this cat. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/9 "2019-09-26T15:50:17Z")
Wait. She found an injured animal and took it to get help. No human was injured or harmed. I would have done the same thing. The only thing I would have done differently is put it in the front seat. As the article states, the bobcat was mortally wounded. If she was able to walk over and pick up a bobcat it might not have even been conscious at the time. Anyway I think people are being too hard on her. She tried to help an injured animal. There are far worse things to do. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/10 "2019-09-26T15:56:16Z")
Putting an untethered animal in the front seat seems a bit foolhardy too - for example if it was just unconscious and suddenly woke up, it could attack or at least significantly distract the driver. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/11 "2019-09-26T16:05:27Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Putting an untethered animal in the front seat seems a bit foolhardy too - for example if it was just unconscious and suddenly woke up, it could attack or at least significantly distract the driver. I’ll agree with foolhardy. I’ve done many foolhardy things when it comes to animal rescue. I’ve worked with wolves, otters, eagles, huge snakes and even tigers (ok the tigers were adorable cubs but still - tigers!). Sometimes you hold your breath, work really, really fast, and keep your fingers crossed that they don’t wake up. I’ve been bitten, scratched and even had a bone broken by an animal once. Wait, maybe I need the Darwin Award 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/12 "2019-09-26T17:48:56Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I’ve been bitten, scratched and even had a bone broken by an animal once. > > Wait, maybe I need the Darwin Award 😃 Darwin Awards are given when one gets oneself killed, or renders oneself incapable of reproduction. What got bitten? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/13 "2019-09-26T19:22:25Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Darwin Awards are given when one gets oneself killed, or renders oneself incapable of reproduction. This means the lady in the OP doesn’t count since she has already passed her genes on. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/14 "2019-09-26T21:07:06Z")
> [@mandala](#): > > Don’t know nothing about bobcats. Are they dangerous? Maybe the lady thought it was just a large regular cat. Bobcats are a (relatively) small species of lynx; adult males typically weigh about 14-40 lbs (the one in the article weighed 25 lbs), females 9-34 pounds. They are not dangerous in the sense that they will attack you if you go for a walk in the woods, but, like any cat, their claws and teeth can mess you up. > [@](#): > > The adult male bobcat was alert, hissing and growling, as Officer Watson secured it with a catch pole. It struggled and swiped at her with its front claws. Upon examination, she saw the estimated 25-pound bobcat’s rear legs were paralyzed so she humanely euthanized the animal. Wild bobcats are, well, wild. _If_ you hand-raised a bobkitten [say you work at a wild animal sanctuary], then, sure, it would make an excellent pet: > [@](#): > > If you are willing to put up with your house being destroyed, furniture torn to shreds on a daily basis, remodeling your house to include double door entries at all exits of the house. Ripping up carpet and replacing with hardwood or tile and or using throw rugs that you don’t mind being destroyed then they will make a great pet for you. Don’t forget the custom raw meat diet, large, escape-proof outdoor enclosure, and specialized veterinary care. They are curious, loving, and affectionate, though! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/15 "2019-09-27T02:57:32Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > This means the lady in the OP doesn’t count since she has already passed her genes on. But she put her kid in a car with a bobcat. That’s trying for a retroactive removal from the gene pool. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/16 "2019-09-27T03:02:18Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I’ll agree with foolhardy. I’ve done many foolhardy things when it comes to animal rescue. I’ve worked with wolves, otters, eagles, huge snakes and even tigers (ok the tigers were adorable cubs but still - tigers!). > > Sometimes you hold your breath, work really, really fast, and keep your fingers crossed that they don’t wake up. I’ve been bitten, scratched and even had a bone broken by an animal once. Have you ever placed an unconfined and very stressed wild animal in the vicinity of a child? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-darwin-award-honorable-mention/840740/17 "2019-09-27T04:01:34Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > The proximate cause of death was euthanization by a wildlife official after she determined the hind legs were paralyzed. Could have been a blood clot in its aorta. One of my kitties had that. His hind legs were paralyzed and he lost control of his urinary/bowel functions. Had to be euthanized.