Mountain Lion Hit By Car Released Into Wild

SAN DIEGO, CA — A mountain lion cub struck by a car was released back into the wild after seven months of rehabilitation at San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center, the organization announced Monday.

The young male, fitted with a satellite GPS collar for tracking, was released by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on June 26 in Ventura County.

The mountain lion came to San Diego Humane Society on Thanksgiving Day 2023. The then- 5-month-old cub had presumably been hit by a vehicle the previous night and was found on the side of a road in Simi Valley. Local animal services alerted the Department of Fish and Wildlife, which transported the cub to Santa Clarita, where veterinarians provided initial medical support.

After arriving at San Diego Humane Society, x-rays showed the mountain lion had a fractured hind leg. The veterinary team repaired the his left tibia, using a metal plate and 10 screws to realign the bones. He was also treated for dehydration and malnourishment. He later had a second surgery to revise the placement of the screws.

The cub moved to an outdoor enclosure for continued rehabilitation in mid-December.

"This patient was a very special case, because his surgeries involved a unique collaboration between Project Wildlife veterinarians and shelter veterinarians," said Jon Enyart, senior director of Project Wildlife at San Diego Humane Society. "Being a teaching institution, we seize opportunities to share our skills across our wildlife and companion animal sides, ensuring every patient gets the highest quality medical care."

Mountain lions are apex predators, so it was crucial for the cub to be fully recovered before his release, according to the organization. In the wild, mountain lion cubs may stay with their mothers up to 26 months, but usually separate after about 15 months.