An apparently injured mountain lion cub that was spotted crouching in the middle of a roadway in Castaic, but was later located and captured by state officials after an hours-long pursuit, was undergoing treatment at a veterinary hospital Thursday, according to broadcast reports.
The cub was initially captured on video about 1 a.m. Wednesday near Hillcrest Parkway and Olympic Street, KTLA5 reported. The animal remained motionless on the asphalt for a time before eventually running off.
California Highway Patrol officers had blocked traffic while the cub was in the roadway.
Two other mountain lions, one believed to be the cub’s mother, were also seen in the area, KTLA reported.
The cub’s disappearance raised concerns about its welfare, but by Wednesday afternoon, state Department of Fish and Wildlife officials shared video with KTLA showing the approximately 6-month-old female being captured after a search.
Experts generally examine a panther’s teeth to determine its approximate age, according to mountainlion.org.
There was no immediate word on what’s ailing the cub, which was expected to undergo tests before being rehabilitated and released.