A mountain lion cub found in the middle of the street in Castaic earlier this week was recovering well before being released back into the wild, state officials said Friday.
The young mountain lion was seen lying near the centerline of Hillcrest Parkway near Olympic Street Wednesday morning, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said.
When state officials initially tried to approach the cub, it ran off into a nearby backyard. The animal was later captured by state biologists and taken to be checked out by a veterinarian.
The veterinarian who examined the cub said it had a small laceration on one of its paws and is slightly underweight, but radiographs showed no broken bones, swelling or other obvious issues.
The cub is estimated to be 4 to 5-months-old, weighing 16.6 pounds, CDFW said.
The state officials said biologists are working to get the cub back to where it belongs.
Drivers planning to travel near where the cub was found are advised to drive slowly and keep their distance.
Castaic residents are also asked to use the department’s Wildlife Incident Report if they see any adult mountain lions in the area, as they could help with reunification efforts.
About mountain lions in California
There are about 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions in California, but wildlife officials call that a crude estimate without an ongoing statewide study. More than half of the state is considered prime habitat for the big cats, which can be found wherever deer are present.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife receives hundreds of mountain lion sighting reports each year. Few result in mountain lions being identified as posing an imminent threat to public safety, the department said. Mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare and their nature is to avoid humans.
Here’s a full list of recommendations from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife of what to do during a mountain lion encounter.
- Do not hike, bike, or jog alone. Stay alert on trails.
- Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active – dawn, dusk, and at night.
- Keep a close watch on small children.
- Off leash dogs on trails are at increased risk of becoming prey for a mountain lion.
- Never approach a mountain lion. Give them an escape route.
- DO NOT RUN. Stay calm. Running may trigger chase, catch and kill response. Do not turn your back. Face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms, or opening your jacket if wearing one; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children.
- Do not crouch down or bend over. Squatting puts you in a vulnerable position of appearing much like a 4-legged prey animal.
- Be vocal; however, speak calmly and do not use high pitched tones or high pitch screams.
- Teach others how to behave during an encounter. Anyone who runs may initiate an attack.
- If a lion attacks, fight back. Research on mountain lion attacks suggests that many potential victims have fought back successfully with rocks, sticks, garden tools, even an ink pen or bare hands. Try to stay on your feet. If knocked down, try to protect head and neck.
- If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 911.
- Report unusual mountain lion behavior to your local CDFW regional office.
