ACTON – A mountain lion that startled an automotive shop employee in Acton Friday morning was tranquilized, captured and would be released back into the wild, authorities said.
The employee, identified in broadcast reports as Hank Barkefelt, came to work about 8:30 a.m. at LJ Automotive at 415 West Sierra Highway, opened a shed door and the lion came out, said Lt. Ron Shaffer of the sheriff’s Palmdale Station.
Startled, the man fell on his back, but he was not injured and reported that the cougar was not aggressive, Shaffer said.
A California Department of Fish and Wildlife warden was called to the scene, while the animal sought shade under a vehicle.
The mountain lion was later tranquilized and removed by state Fish and Wildlife personnel.
The healthy 75-pound female lion would be released at an undisclosed location, Fish and Wildlife said via twitter.
View photos of the cougar at KTLA5.