WATCH: CPW rescues yearling mountain lions from spillway
(LA PLATA COUNTY, Colo.) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) recently helped rescue two yearling mountain lions that had become trapped in a spillway at Vallecito Reservoir and could have drowned if not for the watchful eye of a reservoir employee.
According to CPW, on Friday, April 19, Pine River Irrigation District (PRID) Dam Tender Mike Canterbury was about to release water from the reservoir down into the spillway when he noticed two young mountain lions. Canterbury called CPW, and Wildlife Officer Ty Smith responded.
CPW said the young mountain lions possibly became trapped due to the high walls of the spillway.
Courtesy: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Courtesy: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Courtesy: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Courtesy: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
As the water release likely would have drowned the two young mountain lions, CPW said PRID Superintendent Ken Beck and Dam Tender Canterbury spotting the mountain lions and delaying the release gave the youngsters a second chance. PRID also opened the hydroelectric plant property to allow CPW a chance to rescue the mountain lions.
CPW said Wildlife Officer Smith wasn’t sure if he would need to dart the mountain lions or if they would possibly come out another way, so with rope in hand, he inched out onto a retaining wall and dangled the rope to see if the mountain lion cubs would grab onto it. To his surprise, one of them did!
CPW said the first mountain lion held onto the rope all the way to the top of the spillway barrier and took off into the woods.
Watch the incredible video of the rescue below:
The second mountain lion was more hesitant to trust wildlife officers and refused to grab onto the rope. It unfortunately ran down the spillway all the way to where the Los Pinos River continues below the dam. There it once again became trapped, since it refused to swim through the water to reach the bank.
Hoping to avoid darting the animal, CPW said Smith climbed down a ladder into the spillway, in search of an alternative way to free the mountain lion.
“After a brief standoff, Officer Smith was able to get the lion interested in the rope,” CPW said.
Courtesy: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Courtesy: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Courtesy: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Courtesy: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Courtesy: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
CPW staff were able to successfully rescue the second mountain lion by using a catch pole and pulling it over the concrete wall. The lion was released from the catch pole, and after a few minutes of catching its breath beneath a nearby truck, it also ran off in the direction of its sibling.
“We thank Beck and Canterbury for delaying the dam release and reporting this to give CPW a chance to rescue them,” CPW said, praising the compassionate actions of the two PRID workers.
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