Mountain Lion With Jaw Fracture Rehabilitated​ In San Diego County

RAMONA, CA — A mountain lion that was struck by a car was released back into the wild in Central California after recovering at the San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center.

"It's a remarkable sight to see this majestic animal return to his rightful place in the wild," said Andy Blue, campus director at Ramona Wildlife Center.

The adult male lion, which was found with injuries consistent with being hit by a car in rural San Luis Obispo County, spent two months at Ramona Wildlife Center. The animal was triaged at an emergency veterinary clinic in Salinas before he arrived March 4 at the center.

The animal had road rash wounds, ticks and burrs covering his fur, a fractured jaw and a broken canine tooth, according to San Diego Humane Society. The organization's Project Wildlife team and outside dental consultants repaired his jaw and addressed his wounds. A month later, they also performed a root canal on the animal's upper right canine.

While in recovery, the Project Wildlife team gave the mountain lion pain medication and monitored him via video cameras to ensure he was eating on his own and moving well enough to survive in the wild.

The animal was released by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on May 1 in rural San Luis Obispo County, where he was found. Before being released, he was fitted with a GPS collar to monitor his movements.

"It truly takes a village to make it happen, from the state's biologists to our veterinary team and tireless devotion of our wildlife rehab specialists," Blue said. "Every wild animal plays a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem, so we're glad he's back in his natural habitat."

On average, one to two mountain lions are killed by cars every week on California's highways, according to San Diego Humane Society. Vehicle strikes, urban encroachment, rodenticide and wildfires all contribute to the death of mountain lions in California.