In an encouraging display of resilience, a young male mountain lion, injured pre-Thanksgiving, is now ready to return to his natural habitat, the San Diego wilds. Struck by a vehicle and discovered on a Simi Valley roadside, the cub's recovery has been both extensive and successful. Local animal services, tapping into their network of wildlife experts, called upon the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), who promptly transported the wounded animal for urgent care, according to a recent update from the San Diego Humane Society.
Under the watchful eyes of veterinary teams, the 5-month-old cub, who was found severely dehydrated and malnourished, underwent a series of surgeries to mend a fractured hind leg. The collaborative efforts paid off, even as the cub's prognosis initially teetered on guard. In a described "village" effort, various specialists from the San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program to veterinarians at Twin Oaks Equine and Exotics Service and Veterinary Wildlife and Exotics lent their expertise to nurture the young predator back to health.
Veterinary measures included the innovative use of metal plates and screws to realign the feline's bones—a technique confirming the humane society's commitment to state-of-the-art wildlife care. San Diego Humane Society's campus director, Andy Blue, emphasized the importance of minimal human interaction during recovery to ensure the cub retained its wild instincts. "It’s important he has minimal contact with the rehab specialists to ensure he does not get used to human presence," Blue said in a statement obtained by the San Diego Humane Society.
The recovering cub's journey wasn't just physical but a demonstration of wildlife rehabilitation's potential when human intervention is thoughtful and measured. The animal was meticulously monitored in an environment designed to simulate the rough-and-tumble of the wild, with camera observations verifying his self-regulating behavior during the healing process. The cub gradually regained his strength and, tipping the scales at over 25 pounds, he's shown promising signs of readiness for a life unconfined. The mountain lion will be equipped with a satellite GPS collar if deemed suitable for release.
