California Mountain Lion Injured by Fire Returns to Wild After Month-Long Treatment
A mountain lion found with burn injuries sustained during California’s Bobcat Fire was released back into the wilderness on the weekend of October 24 after receiving a month-long treatment from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine staff.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), wildlife biologist Amelia Viera captured the lion after a homeowner in Monrovia found her with paw injuries in his backyard.
The lion had sustained burns earlier in October during the Bobcat Fire in northern Los Angeles, officials said. The fire had endangered rare species in the San Gabriel Mountains, local news reported.
The CDFW and UC Davis also rescued and treated two black bears that were caught in the North Complex Fire and the Zogg Fire. The North Complex Fire that started in August burned nearly 319,000 acres in the counties of Plumas and Butte, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. The Zogg Fire burned over 56,000 acres in Shasta County since it started in September, according to Cal Fire.
The CDFW posted this video to Facebook, showing the lion’s treatment and release. They quoted Viera who called the lion’s recovery the “ultimate success story.” Credit: California Department of Fish and Wildlife via Storyful
