Santa Clarita (Thechieftainspear) – A young mountain lion cub caused a stir in a Santa Clarita neighborhood Friday afternoon when it was spotted calmly resting in a tree, drawing attention from both residents and wildlife officials.
The 7-month-old cub made itself at home among the branches near an elementary school and a community swimming pool in the South Valencia area. While some locals were concerned about the proximity to children and families, the cub appeared more interested in napping and observing the surroundings than posing any threat.
Earlier in the day, the small mountain lion had been seen wandering near a bridge in the neighborhood before eventually settling into the tree. Resident Mark Lange recalled his surprise when he encountered a law enforcement presence during his routine dog walk.
“I noticed everything was taped off and asked what was going on,” Lange told KNN. “They told me it was a mountain lion. At first, I thought maybe it was just a bobcat, but they made it clear — mountain lion. I took the dogs home and came back to take a look.”
The sighting was first reported around 11:16 a.m. near the intersection of Cortina Drive and Gravino Road. Officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) responded along with local law enforcement.
“It’s the biggest cat I’ve ever seen,” Lange added. “And if that’s a kitten, I’d rather not meet the adult version.”
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Wildlife officers initially considered tranquilizing and relocating the cub. But after assessing the situation, they determined the animal was likely temporarily separated from its mother.
In a Facebook update late Friday, CDFW shared that they believed the cub would likely try to reunite with its mother after nightfall. A video posted with the update showed the kitten peacefully sharing its tree branch with a squirrel.
“Officials are monitoring the situation and waiting until dark in hopes that the mother will return,” the agency stated. “We ask the public to avoid the area and give the cub space to reunite with its mother.”
Despite the risks, Lange admitted he couldn’t resist returning to see the rare sight. “I love animals,” he said with a chuckle. “Maybe more than I should, given the danger.”
Mountain lions are designated as a specially protected species in California and can be found wherever prey like deer, elk, and wild pigs are present. Adult males can grow up to five feet long and weigh as much as 170 pounds.
