FEATURED RESCUE STORY
The Castaic Cub’s Journey North
An orphaned mountain lion cub found alone on a Castaic road couldn’t be reunited with his mother. Flying Tails flew him north to the specialized care he needed.
RESCUE STORY · CASTAIC, CA → SONOMA COUNTY, CA
As reported by CBS News Los Angeles — covered by Hunter Sowards and Dean Fioresi. Read the original story ↗
7+ DAYS
Spent trying to reunite the cub with his mother
16 LBS
The cub’s weight on arrival in Sonoma County
50 LBS
Target weight before release can be considered
THE STORY
Alone on the Side of the Road
In January 2026, an injured mountain lion cub was found alone on a road in Castaic, California, with no sign of his mother anywhere nearby. Wildlife officials rushed him to the Los Angeles Zoo for emergency treatment, then spent more than a week searching the area, hoping to reunite him with his mother in the wild.
But as the days passed, it became clear that reunification wasn’t going to happen. The cub needed a new plan, and a long way to travel to get there.
A Flight North, Not a Ride
That’s where Flying Tails came in. Rather than a stressful, multi-hour drive up the state, our volunteer pilots flew the cub directly from Southern California to Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, a facility equipped for exactly this kind of long-term, specialized rehabilitation.
“This is the next best thing.”
Ken Wayne, Flying Tails, on the cub’s placement at Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue
Growing Wild, Growing Strong
At just 16 pounds on arrival, the cub still has a long way to go. Caretakers say he’ll need to reach at least 50 pounds, and develop the instincts and independence of a wild mountain lion, before release back into the wild can even be considered. He won’t be doing it alone: he’s rehabilitating alongside another orphaned cub from San Luis Obispo, giving both animals a companion as they grow.
HELP THE NEXT CUB
Be Part of the Next Rescue
Every flight like this one is funded by donors and flown by volunteer pilots. Your support keeps Flying Tails ready for the next animal that needs a lift to safety.