Abandoned mountain lion kitten rescued in Santa Monica Mountains
The 22-day-old cub, missing toes on one hind foot, was found alive after his mother left the den.
Wildlife officials have rescued a weeks-old mountain lion found in the western Santa Monica Mountains.
The National Park Service tracked the kitten's mother and believed the cougar recently had kittens. But she abandoned her den.
It had become clear the kitten was alone and his condition was declining, officials said. The kitten, found in the Thousand Oaks area, was 22 days old, the Ventura County Star reported.
Researchers went there and found the abandoned kitten alive. The tiny spotted baby mountain lion was missing toes on one of his hind feet, an injury officials believe may have been caused by umbilical strangulation.
She is now being nursed at a wildlife facility.