Photos: Yearling mountain lions rescued from Vallecito Reservoir spillway

Heather Willard
·3 min read
6

DENVER (KDVR) — Two yearling mountain lions were saved from drowning on Friday at Vallecito Reservoir, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Southwest Regional office.

The agency said Mike Canterbury, dam tender with Pine River Irrigation District, was going to release water from the reservoir down the spillway when he saw two young mountain lions trapped by the spillway’s high walls.

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Canterbury called CPW and Wildlife Officer Ty Smith responded. He discussed options with Canterbury and irrigation district Superintendent Ken Beck, and the district allowed CPW onto the hydroelectric plant property to try and rescue the lions.

Smith said he was not sure if he would have to sedate the mountain lions through a dart, or if they would come out another way. The wildlife officer was given a rope, which he dangled in front of the kittens for them to grab onto, allowing him to lift the kitten out. That worked for one of the large cats.

The first mountain lion held onto the rope until it reached the top of the spillway barrier, where it ran off into the woods. However, the second lion ran down the spillway to where Los Pinos River continues below the dam.

  • The spillway was too tall for the yearling mountain lions to escape.
    The spillway was too tall for the yearling mountain lions to escape.
  • The spillway was too tall for the yearling mountain lions to escape.
    The spillway was too tall for the yearling mountain lions to escape.
  • The spillway was too tall for the yearling mountain lions to escape.
    The spillway was too tall for the yearling mountain lions to escape.
  • CPW District Wildlife Manager Ty Smith looks into the spillway.
    CPW District Wildlife Manager Ty Smith looks into the spillway.
  • The spillway was too tall for the yearling mountain lions to escape.
    The spillway was too tall for the yearling mountain lions to escape.
  • This mountain lion held onto the rope until it got to the top of the spillway barrier, then ran away.
    This mountain lion held onto the rope until it got to the top of the spillway barrier, then ran away.
  • This mountain lion held onto the rope until it got to the top of the spillway barrier, then ran away.
    This mountain lion held onto the rope until it got to the top of the spillway barrier, then ran away.
  • This mountain lion held onto the rope until it got to the top of the spillway barrier, then ran away.
    This mountain lion held onto the rope until it got to the top of the spillway barrier, then ran away.
  • This mountain lion wouldn't hold the rope and instead ran to where the spillway connected to Los Pinos River.
    This mountain lion wouldn’t hold the rope and instead ran to where the spillway connected to Los Pinos River.
  • This mountain lion wouldn't hold the rope and instead ran to where the spillway connected to Los Pinos River.
    This mountain lion wouldn’t hold the rope and instead ran to where the spillway connected to Los Pinos River.
  • This mountain lion wouldn't hold the rope and instead ran to where the spillway connected to Los Pinos River.
    This mountain lion wouldn’t hold the rope and instead ran to where the spillway connected to Los Pinos River.
  • Officer Smith looks into the hydroelectric plant.
    Officer Smith looks into the hydroelectric plant.
  • CPW District Wildlife Manager Ty Smith looks to throw a rope near two trapped yearling mountain lions.
    CPW District Wildlife Manager Ty Smith looks to throw a rope near two trapped yearling mountain lions.
  • A yearling mountain lion stands next to a rope as CPW tries to rescue it from a dam spillway.
    A yearling mountain lion stands next to a rope as CPW tries to rescue it from a dam spillway.
  • A yearling mountain lion stands next to a rope as CPW tries to rescue it from a dam spillway.
    A yearling mountain lion stands next to a rope as CPW tries to rescue it from a dam spillway.
  • A yearling mountain lion hides under a truck after a rescue.
    A yearling mountain lion hides under a truck after a rescue. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife SW Region)

“Unwilling to swim to reach the bank, the young lion continued to pace around at the water’s edge and moved into a corner of the spillway,” CPW said on social platform X.

According to CPW, Smith wanted to avoid darting the feline, so he climbed down onto the spillway with the rope, “hoping to find a way to free the lion.” Like most cats, it was interested in the rope, and CPW staff used a catch pole to lift the lion over the concrete wall and release it.

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But that was not the end: Instead of running into the woods, the kitten hid under a truck for a few minutes. Then, it decided to follow its sibling into the woods.

“We thank Beck and Canterbury for delaying the dam release and reporting this to give CPW a chance to rescue them,” CPW said in its social posts.

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