Badly burned mountain lion cub rescued from Butte Fire

Veterinarians with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife were doing their best to rehabilitate a mountain lion cub found badly burned in the Butte Fire this week, officials said.

The young cat, thought to be three to four months old and weighing around 9 pounds, was discovered Monday limping along Blossom Lane in the Lokelumne Hill area of Calaveras County, officials said.

The male mountain lion was taken to a local veterinarian for treatment of paw and face burns that likely happened from walking across the hot forest floor, the department said.

CDFW staff are hopeful it will make a full recovery and be a candidate for permanent placement in a wildlife care and education facility.