First responders rescued a young mountain lion from a tree after it wandered into the yard of an Orange County home Monday afternoon, authorities said.
“A Tustin family was in for quite a shock when they let their dog out in the morning and the dog chased their cat up a tree,” Tustin police wrote. “When I looked a little closer, I realized that this wasn’t just a cat, it was a California mountain lion.”
Firefighters responded to the home near Irvine Boulevard and Holt Avenue and assisted Fish and Game personnel in removing the animal.
First responders rescued a young mountain lion after a dog chased it into a tree outside an Orange County home. November 2024. (Tustin Police Department) First responders rescue a young mountain lion after a dog chased it into a tree outside an Orange County home. November 2024. (Tustin Police Department) First responders rescue a young mountain lion after a dog chased it into a tree outside an Orange County home. November 2024. (Tustin Police Department) First responders rescue a young mountain lion after a dog chased it into a tree outside an Orange County home. November 2024. (Tustin Police Department) First responders rescue a young mountain lion after a dog chased it into a tree outside an Orange County home. November 2024. (Tustin Police Department) First responders rescue a young mountain lion after a dog chased it into a tree outside an Orange County home. November 2024. (Tustin Police Department) First responders rescue a young mountain lion after a dog chased it into a tree outside an Orange County home. November 2024. (Tustin Police Department) First responders rescue a young mountain lion after a dog chased it into a tree outside an Orange County home. November 2024. (Tustin Police Department)
“For the safety of the animal and first responders, the lion was sedated and removed from the tree,” the Orange County Fire Department reported in X. “Fish and Game biologists then took care of the cat and prepared it for transport, first to a veterinary hospital.” From the processing center it was released back into the wild, albeit in an area far removed from civilization. ”
The X-post was accompanied by a video of the rescue, which shows the young cat clinging to a branch with its front paws and kicking the air below with its lower legs as it appears to be stuck at a height of about 6 feet. The situation was visible.
The video then transitions to a group of approximately five responders, consisting of both fire personnel and animal services personnel, transporting the sedated animal to the ground for treatment.
“Although this is not common, we are proud to serve our partners at Fish & Game,” OCFA said. “Today’s incident also serves as a reminder that when it comes to wild animals, giving them space and reporting them to the appropriate authorities is in the best interest of their safety and ours.”
Tustin police said the mountain lion was safely transported to the Cleveland National Forest.
