ANIMALS
Mountain Lion Yearlings Rescued From Dam Spillway In Colorado
CPW Southwest Region
A pair of yearling mountain lions were rescued on Friday after they were unable to get out of the spillway at Vallecito Reservoir is southwestern Colorado, wildlife officials said in a statement Monday.
Pine River Irrigation District Dam Tender Mike Canterbury was about to release water from the Vallecito Reservoir in the San Juan National Forest on Friday when he spotted the two young mountain lions in the spillway and contacted Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Canterbury and PRID Superintendent Ken Beck held off on the release and District Wildlife Manager Ty Smith responded to the scene.
CPW Southwest Region shared numerous photos and videos on X, formerly Twitter, which showed the high the walls of the spillway.
A release of water likely would have drowned the two lions, the agency said.
Smith was unsure whether he would have to tranquilize the mountain lion cubs, or whether they might come out another way. He dangled a rope near the kittens to see if they’d grab onto it so he could lift them out, and one of them did.
The first mountain lion held onto the rope all the way to the top of the spillway barrier and quickly ran off into the woods, CPW said. The second lion, however, wouldnt hold onto the rope and ran down the spillway all the way to where the Los Pinos River continues below the dam.
The remaining lion paced at the water’s edge, unwilling to swim to the bank, and moved into a corner of the spillway where it settled in for a nervous bath.
Hoping to avoid darting the animal, Smith climbed down the ladder into the spillway with the rope hoping to find a way to free the lion, CPW said. After a brief standoff, Officer Smith was able to get the lion interested in the rope.
Once the mountain lion was engaged by the rope, CPW staff were able to use a catch pole and lift it over the concrete wall to safety.
Although wildlife officials quickly released the young lion, decided to hide under a truck for a few minutes.
After everyone backed off and it took time to regroup, the young lion ran off in the same direction as its sibling, CPW said.
TMX contributed to this article.
