Two yearling mountain lions were successfully rescued from drowning on Friday at Vallecito Reservoir in Colorado, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Southwest Regional office and the Pine River Irrigation District.
Mike Canterbury, a dam tender with the irrigation district, discovered the trapped lions while preparing to release water from the reservoir down the spillway. Recognizing the urgent situation, Canterbury promptly contacted the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) for assistance.
Wildlife Officer Ty Smith arrived at the scene and, after consulting with Canterbury and irrigation district Superintendent Ken Beck, obtained permission to access the hydroelectric plant property to attempt a rescue. Smith initially considered the possibility of sedating the lions using a dart, but ultimately opted for a more humane approach.
With a rope in hand, Smith dangled it in front of the kittens, encouraging them to grab hold. One lion securely latched onto the rope and was lifted to safety, promptly disappearing into the nearby woods.
The second lion, however, presented a more challenging rescue scenario. After running down the spillway to the point where the Los Pinos River flows below the dam, the kitten hesitated to swim across and became trapped in a corner of the spillway.
Determined to avoid sedating the feline, Smith bravely climbed down onto the spillway, armed with the rope. His efforts proved successful as the kitten, intrigued by the rope, allowed Smith to use a catch pole to lift it over the concrete wall and release it into the wilderness.
However, the adventure did not end there. Instead of immediately fleeing into the woods, the rescued kitten displayed a playful feline instinct by hiding beneath a truck for a few minutes before finally deciding to follow its sibling into the safety of the forest.
The successful rescue operation was made possible thanks to the swift response and collaboration of Canterbury, Beck, and Smith. In a statement, CPW expressed its gratitude for their efforts, stating, “We thank Beck and Canterbury for delaying the dam release and reporting this to give CPW a chance to rescue them.”
