Mountain Lion Cub, Whose Mother Was Killed By Car, Finds Forever Home

OAKLAND, CA — Spruce, an orphaned mountain lion rescued earlier this year by the Oakland Zoo, has found a new home at the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama, where he has already bonded with his new companion, Juniper, another rescued mountain lion cub.

Spruce, rescued in January near Portola Valley along with his siblings Fern and Thistle, became the 30th mountain lion taken in by Oakland Zoo’s Mountain Lion Rescue Program. The trio was found after their mother was believed to have been struck and killed by a vehicle nearby.

After months of medical care and rehabilitation at Oakland Zoo, Spruce was selected to move to Birmingham Zoo, where animal care staff hoped his personality would be a good fit with Juniper, a female cub rescued in Montana last December.

The relocation was made possible through a partnership with FedEx, which donated transportation for Spruce as part of its FedEx Cares “Delivering for Good” initiative. Oakland Zoo staff trained Spruce to voluntarily enter his travel crate ahead of the trip, helping to minimize stress during the cross-country journey.

Angela Gibson, Zoological Manager at Oakland Zoo, accompanied Spruce on the flight to Memphis, Tennessee. There, Birmingham Zoo staff picked them up and drove them to Alabama.

“Spruce arrived safely and is getting used to his new home in the Wojciechowski Cougar Crossing nighthouse,” said Birmingham Zoo CEO Chris Pfefferkorn. “He and Juniper have already had positive interactions under the guidance of Birmingham Zoo and Oakland Zoo animal care professionals.”

Since their arrival, the two cubs have been observed cuddling, playing, and communicating with chirps — a sign of comfort and bonding in mountain lions. They will remain in the nighthouse while they acclimate before moving into the zoo’s newly opened Cougar Crossing habitat.

Back in Oakland, Fern and Thistle remain in the zoo’s care while officials determine their future placements.

Mountain lions in California face increasing dangers, including vehicle strikes, wildfires, and habitat loss, bringing them into closer contact with humans. Oakland Zoo, in collaboration with the Bay Area Cougar Action Team (BACAT) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, continues its efforts to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned mountain lions.

“We are excited that a wonderful home has been found for Spruce,” said Oakland Zoo CEO Nik Dehejia. “But we hope that in the future, measures will be implemented to prevent the need for these rescues. Coexistence is essential for the survival of this species.”

Visit Oakland Zoo’s Mountain Lion Rescue Program for more information or to donate to their conservation efforts.

Visit Birmingham Zoo to learn more about their new Cougar Crossing habitat.