CASTAIC (CNS) – State wildlife officials Thursday said a mountain lion cub with an injured paw that was captured after being spotted crouching in the middle of a Castaic roadway is on the mend.
On Wednesday, California Fish and Wildlife officials received a report of an injured mountain lion in the area of Hillcrest Parkway and Olympic Street, according to an agency spokesman.
“Shortly after, our biologists were able to locate and capture the juvenile mountain lion,” said CDFW spokesman Cort Klopping. “They confirmed it was a juvenile female mountain lion and transferred her to a vet for further assessment.”
The cub was initially captured on video about 1 a.m. Wednesday. The animal remained motionless on the asphalt for a time before eventually running off.
California Highway Patrol officers had blocked traffic while the cub was in the roadway.
Resdients reported seeing two other mountain lions, one believed to be the cub’s mother, in the area.
The cub’s disappearance raised concerns about its welfare, but by Wednesday afternoon, CDFW shared video showing the approximately young wildcat being captured after a search that lasted several hours.
“Radiographs from the vet showed no broken bones, swelling or obvious issues,” Klopping said. “There is a small laceration on one of its paws and it’s slightly underweight, but overall, seems to be in good condition.”
The kitten weighs about 16 and a half pounds and is estimated to be 4 to 5 months old, according to Klopping. Experts generally examine a panther’s teeth to determine its approximate age.
“Our biologists are now working on reunification efforts to get the cub back where she belongs,” Klopping said. “We’re asking the public to please drive slowly in the area and to keep a distance from the area as human presence can negatively impact reunification of the cub with its mother. We’re also asking residents from the Castaic area to utilize our Wildlife Incident Report system on the CDFW website to report any sightings of adult mountain lions in the area, as that could help us reunite her with her with her mother.”
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