RAMONA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A young mountain lion that was hit by a car earlier this year has been successfully rehabilitated and released back into the wild, thanks to the efforts of the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center and its partners.
The male mountain lion, believed to be about 10 months old, was released on June 17, 2025, into a remote area of the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County. His release marks the culmination of a 153-day recovery journey that began after the incident.
The cub was first treated for serious injuries, including a skull fracture and trauma to his eye and leg, at the Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital in Orange County. Just days later, he was transferred to the Ramona Wildlife Center, where the San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife team provided care focused on pain management, nutrition, and gradual reintroduction to a wild environment.
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“This is the moment we all work toward — seeing a wild animal return to where they belong,” said Autumn Welch, Wildlife Operations Manager at the Ramona Wildlife Center. “Our job is to provide medical care while preserving the animal’s wild instincts, so they have the best possible chance at surviving on their own.”
After months of rehabilitation with minimal human interaction, the mountain lion regained strength, reached a healthy weight of about 60 pounds, and showed critical survival skills — all key criteria for release back into his natural habitat.
The Ramona Wildlife Center specializes in rehabilitating native apex predators and birds of prey, including bears, coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions, under special authorization. It serves as the primary wildlife rehab resource in San Diego County…