Fish and Game officials 'accidentally kill' a young mountain lion in La Verne

The cougar was found sitting on a wall near the 210 Freeway in La Verne, says the SGV Trib. Though authorities managed to tranquilize the big cat, he died on the way to being released in the wilderness. More from the story:

Authorities said a La Verne resident in the 1400 block of Beaver Way called about 12:30 a.m., saying the animal was sitting on a wall next to the 210 Freeway. Police contacted the California Department of Fish and Game officials, who later attempted to tranquilize the animal to transport and release him into the wilderness.

But the big cat, a young male between 9 and 14 months old, did not survive the ordeal, officials said.    

"The lion died in the darting and transporting process," said Fish and Game spokesman Harry Morse. "There is a loss factor. In this case the mountain lion did not make it through the capture."

Officials said young male mountain lions this time of year wander from their clans after reaching adulthood to avoid being killed by the larger males.

"They'll stay for about a year with their mothers, then they have to go out and establish their own territories," Morse said. "Believe it or not, probably one of the biggest hazards is the dominant male lion, because they kill the younger ones."

Here's the full story about the mountain lion.

--Veronique de Turenne

File photo: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[JewelD]

Interesting how the officials here neglected to reveal they had shot the animal in the FACE.

That was later reported on KPCC (this morning).

KPCC reporters noted that the dart caused so much damage to the poor animal's skull, he didn't survive.

Details, details.

[Andrew]

This is an outrage!! Those stupid SOB's are killing off the last of the our valuable California wildlife. Pretty soon I'll have to explain to my son that there were cats bigger then a dog that were once found outside of zoos. What a waste and what a crying shame..

[Herbert]

Isn't that so convinient? It seems "Law Enforcement Officials" are always looking on ways to kill some one. Animals do not have friends or family that would proceed to sue them for premeditated murder