A mountain lion that roamed residential neighborhoods on the west side of Springfield for the past two days was sedated Friday and was being transported to a sanctuary in Indiana specializing in supporting big cats.
had determined the animal had entered areas of the city where he would be a threat to people or property and decided to remove him.in Center Point, Indiana, where he will receive expert care. The EFRC is a 260-acre sanctuary.The cougar arrived in Springfield on Wednesday morning, and IDNR warned residents not to disturb it as the department continued to track its movements. The animal had been moving through the state over the past few weeks, with stops in Cass and McDonough counties.
Colleen Callahan, director of IDNR, credited people in Springfield for keeping their distance from the big cat as law enforcement and the agency tracked its movements via satellite. "Thank you to our hardworking wildlife staff and conservation police and our partners across federal, state, and local agencies for handling this difficult situation with the professionalism and care that this beautiful wild animal and concerned residents deserve," Callahan said in a press release."I am confident that the mountain lion will be protected and cared for at its new home.