Wildlife and law enforcement officials spent several hours observing and tracking mountain lions passing through Camarillo’s homes and business areas before being captured Wednesday afternoon, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff Colonel Cyrus Zadeh said the homeowner in the 2400 block of Romita Street, who called the dispatch center before 9am, would report the mountain lion in his backyard. Zadeh said that deputies were sent to the house where they found a mountain lion in the backyard under the playground set.
Deputies looked at the Cougar as they awaited Ventura County Animal Service.
Zadeh said it was before 1pm when deputies were called to help after fish and games guards tried to sedate the big cat. The officer fired a dart but missed it. And the Wildcat took the heel.
“It ran through the homes and business areas and jumped onto the roof,” Zadeh said.
He said the sheriff’s department provided traffic control and animal services and fish and game officials tracked the mountain lions for at least an hour.
Zadeh said the cat eventually got to rest in the 2500 block of Pheasant Hill Road. The wild cat was caught around 2pm and Zadeh said it was likely that it would be returned to the wild.
Although rare, the Mountain Lions have previously been able to head to Camarillo’s neighbourhood.
Two years ago, in February, a mountain lion was found on the roads of Pleasant Valley and Pancho. The cat was caught on surveillance cameras at the resident’s home. However, the incident did not require the assistance of fish or game watchers.
Zadeh said it is unclear whether the mountain lion on Wednesday was the same as two years ago, or whether the animals have trackers.
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