Cubs' mother struck, killed

A 3-year-old mountain lion, the mother of two cubs, was struck and killed by a vehicle on State Route 74 in San Juan Capistrano, according to the UC Davis California Carnivores Program.

- BY DEBORAH NETBURN

The two cubs, one male and one female, are 14 months old — essentially adolescents in the mountain lion life cycle. They were still being looked after by their shy, small mother, dubbed F390, at the time of her death on Sept. 4.

The cubs would probably have stayed with her for a few more months, learning how to hunt and navigate, before going on to live independently, according to Fernando Nájera, director of the program.

“It’s a critical time in their lives,” Nájera said. “They have a lot to learn in a short period of time and now they are doing it without a mama.”