The young female mountain lion that roamed miles in the North State to return to her home range near Mount Shasta was captured Friday morning, and wildlife officials were evaluating where to rehome her.
F-79 was relocated in May to the Trinity Alps after she preyed on poultry and other small animals in the Weed and Mount Shasta areas, but on June 3, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office said she was detected back in Mount Shasta.
About 10:30 a.m. on June 5, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with assistance from law enforcement officers from the sheriff’s office, Mount Shasta Police Department and the California Highway Patrol successfully tranquilized her.
“Upon F-79’s relocation, her behavior will continue to be evaluated by the CDFW to determine if any additional interventions are warranted,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement released hours after her capture.
The sheriff’s office also posted a picture on Facebook of the tranquilized mountain lion.
The big cat was treed in the city of Mount Shasta near Mill Road, the statement said.
“The safety of the public remains the SCSO’s highest priority,” the sheriff’s office said and extended its thanks to the officers and to residents for contacting officers with reports related to the animal.
Fish and wildlife officials said F-79 was an orphan near Weed when they rescued, rehabilitated and fitted her with a GPS collar.
Her return to her home range in Mount Shasta prompted the sheriff’s office to warn residents to secure their pets and other animals under their care.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Mountain lion that roamed from Trinity Alps to Mount Shasta captured
Reporting by Jenny Espino, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jenny Espino, Redding Record Searchlight | USA TODAY Network
