Yearling Mountain Lions Rescued from Vallecito Reservoir Spillway

Two young mountain lions trapped by a tall spillway at Vallecito Reservoir in Colorado were rescued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officers. After one mountain lion was lifted out using a rope, the other ran down the spillway to the Los Pinos River. Despite refusing to swim, CPW officer Ty Smith climbed down the spillway with a rope and freed the lion, which hid under a truck before following its sibling into the woods.

Mountain Lions Rescued from Drowning at Colorado Reservoir

Two yearling mountain lions were rescued from drowning on Friday at Vallecito Reservoir in Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Southwest Regional office. Mike Canterbury, the dam tender with Pine River Irrigation District, spotted the trapped lions and called for assistance. Wildlife Officer Ty Smith and irrigation district Superintendent Ken Beck worked together to rescue the kittens. One lion was lifted out using a rope, while the second was climbed down to and freed using a catch pole. Both lions escaped into the woods.

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