Orphaned Colorado Mountain Lion Returns to the Wild

Orphaned Mountain Lion Rescued in Colorado

An orphaned mountain lion that has spent over a year in rehabilitation has been released back into the wild of Colorado. Agents from Colorado Parks and Wildlife have cared for this young mountain lion since it was discovered in June 2024.

Andy Brown, District Wildlife Manager, was able to save the big cat when she was just a kitten and has spent the last year with a rehabilitation specialist near Silt, Colorado, who was willing to take the orphaned cat into care.

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Life at the PSS Wildlife Foundation

During her time at the PSS Wildlife Foundation facility, the mountain lion kitten was fed and grew enough to be returned to the wild, much like any other mountain lion would do when it breaks away from its mother.

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Before the orphaned mountain lion's release, it was PIT tagged by Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist Brad Weinmeister. The tag will allow Colorado Parks and Wildlife to identify the mountain lion if officials ever spot her in the wild again.

After the tagging occurred, she was given a reversal drug to counteract the tranquilizer used to place the PIT tag. She was then taken on a ride into the mountains of Southwest Colorado and released back into the wild.

READ MORE: What to Do if You See a Mountain Lion in Colorado

The photos and video show that the mountain lion is still very much wild and wants no contact with humans whatsoever. When the mountain lion was released from the cage on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife truck, it was a bit clumsy, and Brown said that it was something he had never seen on a release of a mountain lion before.

Watch the Video from CPW’s Southwest Division

Check out all of the photos of the mountain lion and the release video that was posted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife Southwest Division on X.com below.