Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) recently conducted a daring rescue mission to save two young mountain lions trapped in a spillway at Vallecito Reservoir in La Plata County, Colorado. Without the intervention of vigilant reservoir staff, the yearling mountain lions could have faced a tragic fate.

Swift Action Prevents Tragedy

On Friday, April 19, Mike Canterbury, a Dam Tender at Pine River Irrigation District (PRID), spotted the trapped mountain lions as he was preparing to release water into the spillway. Recognizing the perilous situation, Canterbury promptly alerted CPW, prompting Wildlife Officer Ty Smith to respond swiftly to the scene.

CPW indicated that the steep walls of the spillway likely contributed to the young mountain lions’ entrapment.

A Second Chance

Thanks to the timely actions of PRID Superintendent Ken Beck and Dam Tender Mike Canterbury, who delayed the water release, the mountain lions were given a lifeline. Additionally, PRID facilitated CPW’s access to the hydroelectric plant property to facilitate the rescue operation.

Upon arriving at the scene, Wildlife Officer Smith assessed the situation, unsure whether he would need to tranquilize the animals or find an alternative solution. With rope in hand, he cautiously approached the retaining wall and extended the rope, hoping the mountain lion cubs would seize the opportunity for escape. To his relief, one of the young lions grasped the rope, allowing Smith to hoist it to safety.

A Tale of Two Lions

While one of the mountain lions made a successful escape, the other remained hesitant, refusing to trust the rescuers. Despite efforts to coax it to safety, the second lion fled down the spillway, becoming trapped once again near the Los Pinos River.

Determined to avoid resorting to tranquilization, Smith descended into the spillway and engaged in a gentle standoff with the wary animal. Eventually, he succeeded in gaining its trust, enabling CPW staff to use a catch pole to extract it from the perilous situation.

A Grateful Rescue

CPW expressed gratitude to Beck and Canterbury for their decisive actions in delaying the dam release and alerting authorities to the trapped mountain lions. Their swift response and compassionate efforts ensured that both animals were safely rescued and given a chance to reunite with their natural habitat.

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