NEED TO KNOW
- A baby mountain lion was spotted on a tree branch in the backyard of someone’s home in Santa Clarita, Calif.
- The feline was believed to be about 7 months old
- “Upon investigation, it was determined the kitten likely got separated from its mother, and will look to reunite after dark,” officials noted, adding that the public should stay away
A baby mountain lion in California apparently needed a cat nap, as one was spotted lounging on a tree tree branch in a residential area.
On Friday, May 16, the feline, believed to be about 7 months old, was spotted in the backyard of someone’s home in Santa Clarita, as seen in a video from California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
The agency began monitoring the mountain lion after being alerted by the homeowners. Officials determined “the kitten likely got separated from its mother, and will look to reunite after dark.”
The CDFW cautioned the public to stay away from the cub on Friday, but since then, the young mountain lion was seen leaving the area. In an update the next day, the department said they observed “the mountain lion making its way back into the wild late last night.”
The CDFW shared a video on Facebook of the lion perched on top of a tree branch with its long tail dangling in the air. The clip showed a squirrel approaching the wild animal. The cub did not move from its spot upon the smaller animal’s arrival.
CW-affiliate KTLA reported that the mountain lion sighting was near an elementary school and a community pool. Prior to finding its resting spot on the tree, the animal was seen walking around a nearby bridge, the news outlet wrote.
The CDFW arrived in the area around 11:16 a.m. local time, per KTLA.
A spokesperson for the agency told KTLA that a wildlife officer and an environmental scientist were called to assess the scene. At the time, they were considering tranquilizing the mountain lion to move it back to its natural habitat.
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Resident Mark Lange, recalled seeing the mountain lion while walking his dog. He told the news outlet that he “saw the sheriff set up, roped off with yellow tape.” The sheriff then told him about the mountain lion.
“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,” Lange said, noting the rarity of the animal sighting.
Per the CDFW website, mountain lions are classified as a “specially protected” species in California. The species have not been hunted in the state since 1972. The agency stated that the felines tend to keep to themselves, and rarely attack humans.
Fewer than 50 verified mountain lion attacks on humans have occurred in California since 1890. Of those 50 attacks, six have been fatal.
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