Firefighters Rescue Mountain Lion Cubs From Bitterroot Forest Fire

Firefighters Rescue Mountain Lion Cubs From Bitterroot Forest Fire
By OutdoorAly

Posted: September 4, 2014

Two firefighters have been receiving quite a bit of attention on the web lately from the photos of them saving mountain lion kittens from the Three Mile Fire in the Bitterroot National Forest east of Florence, Montana.

Firefighters spotted the kittens under a burning log last Friday afternoon, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Bitterroot National Forest spokesman Tod McKay told the Missoulian (http://bit.ly/1tkoLr9 ) that a crew fighting a blaze in the Sapphire Mountains was digging a fire line Friday when they heard noises coming from under the log.

The fire prevented the crew from reaching the log, so they called in a helicopter that dropped 600 gallons of water.

McKay says the soaked cubs came out when the flames were extinguished. The cubs were estimated at just a few weeks old.

McKay says Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks took custody of the cubs. Crews did not see any other mountain lions in the area of the 48-acre fire they are battling about 9 miles east of Florence.

$The cubs are between 1 and 2 weeks old. They\'re both males and are at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Helena.$

The cubs are between 1 and 2 weeks old. They’re both males and are at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Helena.

$It\'s unclear whether the baby cats can eventually return to the wild. Officials will decide that later.$

It’s unclear whether the baby cats can eventually return to the wild. Officials will decide that later.

Firefighters Rescue Mountain Lion Cubs From Bitterroot Forest FireBy OutdoorAly

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