Mountain Lion Cub Hit By Car Recovering At Ramona Wildlife Center

RAMONA, CA — A mountain lion cub struck by a vehicle has a second chance at life after being rehabilitated at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center.

The cub was hit by a vehicle the night before Thanksgiving and found on the side of a road in Simi Valley, according to San Diego Humane Society. Local animal services alerted California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which transported the mountain lion to Santa Clarita where veterinarians provided initial medical support overnight.

The 5-month-old cub was then taken to the Ramona Wildlife Center on Thanksgiving Day.

X-rays taken the next day showed the mountain lion had a severely fractured hind leg, according to San Diego Humane Society. He was treated for dehydration, malnourishment and given a temporary splint to support his broken bones.

Three days later, the veterinary team repaired the cub's left tibia, using a metal plate and 10 screws to realign his bones. For the next three weeks, the mountain lion was monitored via cameras in an indoor hospital enclosure, limiting human interaction and movement that could risk damage to the surgery site.

On Dec. 1, veterinarians performed a second surgery to replace the screws for shorter screws. According to San Diego Humane Society, the cub's prognosis remained guarded until his third sedated surgery recheck on Dec. 18, when veterinarians decided he was ready to move to an outdoor enclosure for continued rehabilitation.

Ramona Wildlife Center's outdoor enclosure is covered with vegetation, rocky outcroppings and areas for the cub to explore and regain his strength, according to San Diego Humane Society.

"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 of Ramona Wildlife Center. "We monitor him with cameras daily and are pleased to see he is self-limiting his activities while healing from his injury."

During a sedated recheck on Jan. 26, wildlife veterinarians confirmed the fracture was healing well and the mountain lion was gaining weight, now weighing 25.2 pounds

"Treatment of this animal has been a collaboration between San Diego Humane Society's Project Wildlife veterinarians and shelter veterinarians," the organization said in a new release. "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."

In the wild, mountain lion cubs may stay with their mothers up to 26 months but usually separate after about 15 months, according to San Diego Humane Society.

Ramona Wildlife Center's Project Wildlife team is working under guidance from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine the next steps for the mountain lion.

If he is releasable to the wild, he will be outfitted with a satellite GPS collar for tracking to help ensure his future health and wellbeing, according to San Diego Humane Society.