A seven-month-old mountain lion hung out in a backyard tree in Santa Clarita, California the other day. It couldn’t even be bothered to go after a squirrel that came sniffing along its chosen branch. Eventually, the young cougar left on its own—a peaceful ending to a close wildlife encounter.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) posted a video of the mountain lion on Facebook, sharing the story and providing updates to the Santa Clarita community. Wildlife officials’ goal was to let the kitten be until nightfall in hopes its mother would come back for it.
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“CDFW is on scene in Santa Clarita, monitoring an approximately 7-month-old mountain lion kitten spotted in a tree in a backyard,” CDFW wrote in its Facebook post. “Earlier today, homeowners reported the sighting, prompting a response from wildlife officers. Upon investigation, it was determined the kitten likely got separated from its mother, and will look to reunite after dark.”
Although there was no touching reunion between the mother and her kitten, at least that humans witnessed, CDFW’s plan worked. The young lion left the tree on its own during the night and headed back into the wild.
See the mountain lion in a backyard tree here:
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