Many felt the T.G.I.F. spirit across the Southern California coast this Friday, but perhaps no one more so than the 7-month-old mountain lion cub who spent its afternoon lounging in a Santa Clarita neighborhood tree.
Although onlookers were nervous about the kitten’s proximity to a nearby elementary school and community pool, the perched cub was only seen curiously peaking around and, for the most part, relaxing and napping.
Homeowners and other witnesses told the stringer news service KNN that before the kitten stretched out in the shady branches, it was seen roaming around the nearby bridge in the South Valencia community.
“I was walking my dogs earlier on our normal walk, and I saw the sheriff set up, roped off with yellow tape, and he said, ‘There’s a mountain lion,’” resident Mark Lange told KNN. “I was like, ‘Mountain lion.. maybe a bobcat?’ and he said ‘No, mountain lion.’ So, I took my dogs home, and I swung back over to see if I could get a glimpse of him.”
Around 11:16 a.m., California Department of Fish & Wildlife and law enforcement officials responded to calls about the cat sighting at the intersection of Cortina Drive and Gravino Road.
“Biggest cat I’ve ever seen. Beautiful,” Lange depicted. “If that’s a baby, I definitely don’t want to come across a full-grown.”
As of 4 p.m. Friday, CDFW spokesperson Steve Gonzalez told KTLA that at least one wildlife officer and an environmental scientist were assessing the scene, most likely planning to tranquilize the young mountain lion and move it to its natural habitat.
However, in an update on Friday night, CDFW posted to Facebook, saying, “Upon investigation, it was determined the kitten likely got separated from its mother, and will look to reunite after dark.” The post also provided footage of the cub peacefully sharing a branch with a squirrel, viewable below.
CDFW said officials planned to wait until nightfall, “as the mother may come back to retrieve her cub.”
“In the meantime,” the post added, “they urge the public to stay away and allow the kitten a chance to reunite with its mother.”
Lange pointed out that although he initially went back home with his dogs, knowing that mountain lions are “powerful” and can attack, he said he chose to return earlier on Friday in hopes of catching a glimpse of the cat.
“I’m a big animal lover, so I guess my life isn’t as important as seeing a mountain lion,” Lange laughed.
Mountain lions are considered a “specially protected” species in California, and they can be found anywhere in their state where their primary prey can be found, including mule deer, elk and wild pigs. Male adults can reach up to 5 feet in length and up to 170 pounds.
To read more about mountain lions in California, click here.
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