Sometimes even Mother Nature’s most ferocious beasts need help. Hence this incredible footage of a southern Utah wildlife conservation officer trying to free this extremely angry mountain lion.
This dude worked diligently–in a perilous situation, we might add–to free this fired up lion. According to KUTV in Salt Lake, the trap was set for coyotes and bobcats. Trappers are required to report incidents where lion’s are caught in their snares within 48 hours (the trapper is seen helping the officer). Those poles they’re shoving at the animal are called catch poles with loops that attach to the cougar to prevent it from attacking them. “I think it’s a lot more humane and a lot safer option than sedation,” said officer Mark Ekins. “I guess I respect them enough, and I’ve done it enough, that I kind of know my abilities and their abilities.”
Good thing. Because just watching the footage makes one feel uncomfortable.
Earlier this week, we carried a story on P-22, a mountain lion living in Griffith Canyon in Los Angeles that snuck into a zoo and ate a koala. The zoo officials wanted the lion left alone.
