article_snippet: A game warden with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife meant to shoot the three-year-old animal in the shoulder or the rump after officials cornered the cat in a loading dock at The Promenade mall in Temecula.
article_snippet: The Riverside County Sheriff's Department received several reports of the cat prowling around The Promenade mall in Temecula around 6am and contacted Fish and Wildlife wardens who arrived at around 7am, the Press Enterprise  reports.
article_snippet: Usually, wardens attempt to simply chase mountain lions away from a populated area if there is a safe route available, but in this case, there was no good exit for the cat, as he had wandered into the middle of town, Brennan said.
article_snippet: The mall wasn't open, and only a few store employees were around in the early hours.
article_snippet: But the mountain lion was reportedly first spotted near a freeway.
article_snippet: Officials say an animal could have made the mountain lion way to the mall area for a number of reasons including simply looking for a suitable habitat.
article_snippet: Officials say an animal could have made his way to the mall area the mall area for a number of reasons including simply looking for a suitable habitat .
highlights_snippet: Officials say a mountain lion that wandered near a southern California mall may have wandered into the urban area seeking a suitable habitat .