With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Born Free — And Free Again. Orphaned Mountain Lion Is Back In The Wild
One of two orphaned mountain lions is released back into the wild.
(
Courtesy San Diego Humane Society
)
A young, orphaned mountain lion has been released back into the wild, four months after its mother was hit and killed by a car in Orange County.
The female mountain lion was rescued, along with its sister, near the Tijeras Creek Golf Course in Rancho Santa Margarita, when the two were just six months old.
Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife enlisted the help of the San Diego Humane Society to care for the kittens until they were old enough to fend for themselves.
Andy Blue, director of the Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center, said the lion was first outfitted with a tracking radio collar and an identifying microchip before it was set free.
Sponsored message
"It was released back into an area in the Santa Ana mountains," Blue said. "It's a remote area that has plenty of access to water and lots of tree cover. So she's in a beautiful spot."
The other kitten that was rescued had to have surgery for a fractured forearm at a clinic in Orange County before it came to the Ramona Wildlife Center last month.
One of two rescued mountain lions needed surgery for a fractured forearm.
(
Courtesy San Diego Humane Society
)
Blue says that mountain lion will likely go to a sanctuary when it's released, because of the amount of contact it's had with humans during its treatment.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
