Game Wardens Fear 2 Big Cats in Fillmore Area
A mountain lion from the suburban wilds of the San Fernando Valley regained her freedom Saturday in a Ventura County forest, but state wildlife officials say a pair of big cats are still prowling around Fillmore.
State Department of Fish and Game wardens released the 70-pound female lion in a remote, unpopulated portion of Los Padres National Forest after she was captured Friday in a condominium complex in Chatsworth.
Meanwhile, reports of big-game animals on the loose in thinly populated areas of Ventura County have wildlife experts concerned.
Larry Sitton, state wildlife management supervisor, said there have been several reports of at least two different lions prowling Fillmore and Piru. One adult lion with a collar around its neck was seen recently, leading authorities to believe it could be an escaped pet. The other is a smaller cat with no collar, Sitton said.
El Dorado mobile home park resident Lyle Smith, 85, said he saw the smaller lion last week behind his shed.
“It just surprised me. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the mountain lion,” Smith said.
The lion escaped after a chase of several hours. It was last seen heading toward the hills.
Wildlife experts cite increasing urban development in the foothills of Ventura County and the five-year drought as the main reasons for the exodus of big cats from their remote mountain habitat.
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