BillyVance 35 #1 March 30, 2005 I would just have had to have been there to believe it! ============== While patrolling a line outside of Griffin, Georgia, on the recent ice storm I spotted something unusual on top of a 45 foot distribution pole. From a distance I thought it was a hawk since it is not uncommon to see them sitting on top of poles. As I got closer it became apparent that it was not a hawk but appeared to be an animal of some sort. Only after I got out of the truck and walked around the pole a couple times did I realize it was a bobcat. The 2 outside phases on this circuit are energized and the middle phase is dead. At first I assumed the cat was dead and may have been the cause of the outage. But as I walked around the pole several times looking up at the cat I noticed that no matter where I was he was looking at me. He was very much alive and appeared to be trying to hide from me on top of the pole. I called a couple guys on the radio and told them what I was looking at. Of course they didn't believe it and had to come see for themselves. After we determined that it was in fact alive and appeared to be unharmed we called in a bucket truck to attempt to rescue the cat. The initial plan was to go up in a bucket and try to convince him to climb down the pole with a hot stick. After a quick tailboard discussion (which should be done before any job) we determined that that plan presented several hazards, including the cat getting upset and shorting out one of the energized phases and causing a flash, or he may decide the best route down was across the hot stick and into the bucket. As funny as that may have been we decided against it and went to Plan 2 which was was to coax him down with an extendo stick. Robert claimed to be pretty good with an extendo and also at animal mitigation so he volunteered to tackle the job. When Robert touched the bobcat with the extendo it gave up its game of hide and seek and started running circles around the pole top pin (no shit). Apparently on the second lap he got close enough to one of the energized phases that the static started making him uncomfortable. He let out a loud caterwaul (scream) and jumped off the pole with all 4 legs pointed in different directions. I was attempting to photograph the rescue but it all happened so fast I was only able to get one picture of his escape. The cat hit the ground with a very loud thud, jumped about 3 feet high, then ran straight under the bucket truck and out the other side. Last time we saw him he was running at a high rate of speed across a field, apparently unharmed. See the pictures!"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #2 March 30, 2005 I'll betcha he was pissed, the bobcat that is There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Feeblemind 1 #3 March 30, 2005 You must admit from your photo the cat had a bitchin' de-arch!! Nice form kitty! Fire Safety Tip: Don't fry bacon while naked Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rebecca 0 #4 March 30, 2005 Bwahahaha!!! That last shot is priceless!! Thank goodness he's ok. Silly cat. you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjhdiver 0 #5 March 30, 2005 QuoteI would just have had to have been there to believe it! ============== Last time we saw him he was running at a high rate of speed across a field, apparently unharmed. See the pictures! Funny thing about cats. In cats brought to the emergency vets in New York after having fallen from buildings, there was a higher rate of survival and less injury, the higher their fall. Apparently, once the buggers have had a little time to orient themselves, they can spread out and slow down significantly. They actually hit the ground slower. Add to this, the fact that cats front legs don't actually attach to their shoulders via a bone socket, but by shock absorbing ligaments and muscle, and they can survive huge drops with little or no injury. I've tested this out on my cat, so I know it to be true. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #6 March 30, 2005 The cat probably figured a power pole counts as an "A", so he ran off to find a "B", an "S", and an "E"."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nutz 0 #7 March 30, 2005 Quote I've tested this out on my cat, so I know it to be true. "Don't! Get! Eliminated!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rebecca 0 #8 March 30, 2005 I read that very thing in an article - cats have a little extra flesh between their legs along their sides, and they use that to cup air. The higher the easier; 3 floors and under isn't always enough alti. edit. Me= tard you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrunkMonkey 0 #9 March 30, 2005 I knew that cat. He's British. He prefers "Robert Feline" to "Bobcat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigra 0 #10 March 30, 2005 Not an arch but a pretty darn good de-arch! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #11 March 30, 2005 I want one for a pet....as long as he does not play with my other kitties to death Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxx 1 #12 March 31, 2005 Nice exit! Seems like he is trying to float a little bit to brake his fall.. Way to go BASEcat !! Max Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markd_nscr986 0 #13 March 31, 2005 That bobcat performed a perfect "dead spider"..........which I have have observed many times while IN the formationMarc SCR 6046 SCS 3004 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigra 0 #14 March 31, 2005 Many of us could learn from him! The technique was perfect! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #15 March 31, 2005 Cats are one of the few mamals that can survive impact at their own terminal velocity. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
