Remember that mountain lion kitten rescued from a home in November after it got sick from eating bratwurst?
Well, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) posted a video Monday on Twitter showing the La Veta "brat" mountain lion being released from Wet Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation in Wetmore.
The mountain lion kitten was sent to the rehabilitation center after CPW said someone claimed to have found it in a snowbank, took it inside to “thaw out” and apparently fed the wild animal bratwurst – which did not agree with its stomach.
The entire incident prompted CPW to distribute a news release telling people this is not the best idea since apparently, this is something that needed to be said.
“Wild animals do not need to ‘thaw out’ because they are equipped by nature to survive cold and snow,” said CPW District Wildlife Manager Travis Sauder in the November news release.
The kitten was under six months old and wildlife officials believe it had not yet been weaned from its mother’s milk and in fact, may have only been eating regurgitated solids from its mothers.
"If you find wildlife you believe to be orphaned, leave the area immediately and call CPW,” Sauder said in the news release. “By leaving the area, mom will feel safe to come back and retrieve her young.
“Many animals intentionally leave their young behind when startled, relying on the built-in camouflage of the youngsters’ spotted fur to keep them safe. The mother will then return to retrieve its young once the area is safe.”
Sauder said if you find orphaned wildlife, call CPW immediately. They’ll bring it to a licensed rehabilitation center which will prepare the animal to return to the wild.
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