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Mountain Lion Cub Rescued From California Wildfires Makes Great Recovery

Mountain Lion Cub Rescued From CA Wildfires Makes Great Recovery
Mountain Lion Cub Rescued From CA Wildfires Makes Great Recovery. Image by CBS Miami via YouTube.

An orphaned mountain lion cub was found and rescued by a Cal Fire firefighter on 30 September 2020 . Check out the little survivor who will be making his recovery at the Oakland Zoo in California.

The Rescue Mission

Mountain Lion Cub Rescued From CA Wildfires Makes Great Recovery
Screenshot from “Mountain Lion Cub Rescued From CA Wildfires Makes Great Recovery.” Source: YouTube, Uploaded: CBS Miami

On September 30, a Cal Fire firefighter found an orphaned mountain lion cub in one of the devastating California wildfires. The cub, thought to be only a few weeks old, was found alone, dehydrated and injured. The firefighter quickly took action and took the cub to safety. He gave it immediate care and transported him to a nearby wildlife rescue center.

Journey to Recovery

Screenshot from “Mountain Lion Cub Rescued From CA Wildfires Makes Great Recovery.” Source: YouTube, Uploaded: CBS Miami

After his initial rescue, the mountain lion cub was taken to the Oakland Zoo. This is where a team of veterinarians began working hard to hep the cub recover. The cub got all the medical treatments, hydration, and a proper diet to help him regain his strength! The Oakland Zoo has a history of successfully rehabilitating injured or orphaned animals, so this made it an ideal place for the cub’s recovery.

Bright Future

Mountain Lion Cub Rescued From CA Wildfires Makes Great Recovery
Screenshot from “Mountain Lion Cub Rescued From CA Wildfires Makes Great Recovery.” Source: YouTube, Uploaded: CBS Miami

Thanks to the quick response from the Cal Fire team and the Oakland Zoo, the mountain lion cub is made amazing progress. His wounds are healed, and he gained weight steadily! Overall, the end plan is to eventually release him back into the wild when he is strong enough to survive on his own.

Physical Features of the Mountain Lion

Q: What is the Average Size of a Mountain Lion?

A: Adult mountain lions weigh between 64 to 220 pounds.

Mountain lion on grass
Cougar lion on grass in texas park. Image via Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez (Lmbuga), CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Q: How Does the Mountain Lion’s Coat Appear?

Mountain Lion
Mount lion. Image via National Park Service from USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A: Mountain lions have a tawny or light brown coat that helps them blend into their natural surroundings.

Q: What Unique Feature Do Mountain Lion Cubs Have?

Portrait of Beautiful Puma in autumn forest. American cougar – mountain lion, striking pose, scene in the woods, wildlife America. Image by Baranov_Evgenii via depositphotos.com

A: Mountain lion cubs are born with spots that fade as they mature. These spots provide camouflage, helping them stay hidden!

Q: Describe the Mountain Lion’s Tail.

Baby mountain lion. Image via depositphotos.

A: Mountain lions have long, thick tails that are about one-third of their body length. The tail helps with balance.

Q: How Powerful are a Mountain Lion’s Legs?

Mountain Lion on Tree. Image created by Chris Weber with Midjounrey.
Mountain lion on tree. Image created by Chris Weber with Midjounrey.

A: Mountain lions have powerful hind legs, this lets them leap up to 15 feet vertically and 40 feet horizontally!

Q: What is Notable About the Mountain Lion’s Paws?

A: Their paws are large and padded. This helps them with silent stalking and gives them traction on surfaces. They also have retractable claws used for hunting and climbing.

Q: What is the Mountain Lion’s Vision Like?

mountain lion
DALL·E 2024-02-06 22.22.50 – A majestic mountain lion standing on a rocky ledge with a panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains in the background. The scene captures the essence.

A: Mountain lions have great night vision. Letting them hunt effectively in low-light conditions. Their eyes are adapted to detect motion, which is crucial for spotting prey.

Q: How Sharp are a Mountain Lion’s Teeth?

mountain lion inside apartment complex
Image by Robert Thiemann via Unsplash

A: Mountain lions have sharp, carnivorous teeth.

Q: What Role Do a Mountain Lion’s Whiskers Play?

mountain lion inside apartment complex
Image by Corinna Stoeffl via Pixabay

A: Whiskers are highly sensitive and help mountain lions detect objects.

Q: How Does a Mountain Lion’s Hearing Compare to Other Animals?

A close up shot of a mountain lion (Puma concolor) laying down in the grass.

A: Mountain lions have acute hearing that lets them detect the slightest sounds.

Q: Describe the Mountain Lion’s Sense of Smell.

mountain lion
Image by marcelo recabal via Pixabay

A: Their sense of smell is keen enough to assist in locating prey and detecting other mountain lions’ scent markings.

Q: What Adaptations Help Mountain Lions Climb Trees?

mountain lion inside apartment complex
#1 most goggles animal in California. Image by Bruce Jastrow via Unsplash

A: Their retractable claws and strong forelimbs make them adept climbers.

Q: How Fast Can Mountain Lions Run?

mountain lion inside apartment complex
The Mountain Lion. Image by Zach Key via Unsplash

A: Mountain lions can sprint short distances at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.

Q: What is the Mountain Lion’s Primary Diet?

Mountain Lion on Rock. Image created by Chris Weber with Midjounrey.
Mountain Lion on Rock. Image created by Chris Weber with Midjounrey.

A: They hunt deer but will also prey on smaller animals like rodents, birds, and even insects if necessary.

Q: How Do Mountain Lions Communicate?

Mountain lion
Image by Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A: Mountain lions communicate through vocalizations like growls, hisses, and purrs, as well as through scent markings and visual signals such as body language.

Q: What are Some Threats to Mountain Lions in the Wild?

cougar
Portrait of a cougar, mountain lion, puma, panther, striking a pose on a fallen tree, Winter scene in the woods, wildlife America. Image via Depositphotos

A: Threats include habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and depletion of their prey base.

Bottom Line

mountain lion on grass
A mountain lion. Image via depositphotos.

Find the link to the video here.

Overall, the rescue above and the recovery of the orphaned mountain lion cub remind us of the resilience of wildlife and the importance of conservation efforts! Thanks to the bravery of the Cal Fire firefighter and the dedication of the Oakland Zoo team, this cub had a second chance at life.

Thanks for reading along!

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