If you need a dose of feel-good wildlife news this week, Sienna is here to help — a 6-month-old cougar cub with a rough start and a promising future. Recently rescued in New Mexico and now settling into her new home at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville, Sienna is the newest addition to the park’s feline family.
Sienna was found alone in a tree near Española, New Mexico, after being spotted without her mother for several days. Dehydrated and underweight, she was scooped up by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and taken to the ABQ BioPark Zoo for initial care. And while her beginnings were tough, things have taken a serious turn for the better.
Last week, Sienna made the trip north to Washington, where she’s now bonding with another rescued cub named Sullivan. Sullivan’s story is equally dramatic — he was found near Spokane earlier this year in critical condition. Thanks to care at Northwest Trek’s animal clinic, the cougar cub pulled through. Now, he’s helping Sienna get her footing.
“She came to us nervous and feisty — understandable after such a traumatic experience — but she’s already settling in,” said Becca McCloskey, curator at Northwest Trek. “Sullivan is helping her build confidence, and she’s starting to show signs of curiosity and trust.”
Right now, the cubs are spending time behind the scenes, but they’ll eventually be viewable along the park’s cat loop trail, not far from the bobcat and lynx exhibits. And don’t worry — this isn’t the start of a cougar matchmaking program. These two are just cub buddies, no breeding plans in the works.
Their stories are a reminder of the delicate line between human compassion and wildlife caution. If you or your kids ever come across a wild animal that seems to be alone, experts urge you not to jump to the rescue. Many species leave their young alone for long periods for survival reasons. When in doubt, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator before taking action.
As for Sienna and Sullivan, they’re proof that when rescue efforts work well, wild animals get second chances.
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is about an hour’s drive from Seattle and makes for a solid family day trip — especially now that two adorable cougar cubs are in town.
