A mountain lion that was struck by a vehicle and found on the side of the road is on its way to a full recovery after multiple surgeries at the San Diego Humane Society, officials said.
The cub, 3 months old at the time, was found the night before Thanksgiving in Simi Valley, Nina Thompson, a Humane Society spokesperson, said in a news release Wednesday. After being taken to a veterinarian in Santa Clarita, the cat was transported the next morning to one of the only facilities in California equipped to provide rehabilitative care for large carnivores — the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center.
The unique rehab there prevents the animals from becoming too accustomed to humans and gives the predators a better chance of surviving in the wild, Thompson added.
The mountain lion cub recovers after being sedated for surgery at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center.
(Photo courtesy of the San Diego Humane Society)
Within three days of its arrival, veterinarians repaired the fractured left tibia by using a metal plate and 10 screws to realign the bones. A few days later he had another surgery to replace those screws with shorter ones.
Throughout the process, the puma was monitored via cameras at an indoor hospital enclosure to ensure it stayed hydrated and well nourished.
On Dec. 18, he was deemed ready to be placed in an outdoor enclosure, filled with plants, rocks and different areas for him to explore, officials said.
“It’s important he has minimal contact with the rehab specialists to ensure he does not get used to human presence,” said Andy Blue, campus director at the Ramona center. “We monitor him with cameras daily and are pleased to see he is self-limiting his activities while healing from his injury.”
The mountain lion in his outdoor enclosure at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center.
(Courtesy of the San Diego Humane Society)
Last month, wildlife veterinarians said the 25-pound feline was healing well. The Humane Society is now working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine next steps for the animal.
He is scheduled to be released in June at the age of 10 months old, Thompson said. He will be equipped with a GPS collar to monitor his well being.
“Mountain lions are apex predators, so it is crucial for this cub to be fully recovered and able to survive and hunt on his own,” Thompson said. “In the wild, mountain lion cubs may stay with their mothers up to 26 months but usually separate after about 15 months.”
The mountain lion would be the third of its species to be released by the San Diego Humane Society since the organization acquired the Ramona campus in 2022.
