A 6-month-old female mountain lion cub that had been reported injured in Castaic was found 60 feet away in thick brush on Wednesday afternoon and was being transported for veterinary care, according to the state Fish and Wildlife Department.
The cub was seen sitting in the middle of traffic lanes, apparently injured, on Hillcrest Parkway just east of Olympic Street in Castaic in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to officials with the California Highway Patrol Newhall-area Office
The mountain lion was with two other mountain lions at the time of the incident, according to Officer Carlos Burgos-Lopez with the CHP.
Officers requested the California Fish and Wildlife Department for backup, Burgos-Lopez said.
The mountain lion was seen running away around 2:15 a.m., Burgos-Lopez added.
Cort Klopping, a spokesman for Fish and Wildlife, said that biologists and a field team went to the location in an effort to find the cub.
Klopping added that the injury could have been from getting hit by a car, but he could not confirm at the time of this story’s publication.
Biologists said the cub was alert and mobile when she was found, Klopping said.
He said that biologists would have a better understanding of the injuries following a radiograph with the vet.
“I can confirm that CDFW biologists responded to a report of an injured juvenile mountain lion in Castaic today. Initial reports were that the mountain lion was injured from being struck by a vehicle, and I am working to confirm that now. The biologists were able to locate and capture the cub. They are now transporting the cub to a local veterinarian for assessment,” Klopping said in an email statement on Wednesday afternoon.
