Mountain Lion Captured After Jumping on Mechanic Opening up Shop

— -- A California mechanic got a surprise Friday morning when a mountain lion jumped on him as he was opening the shop where he worked.

Hank Barkerfelt said the encounter scared him but the animal quickly took off, ABC station KABC-TV reports. It happened at LJ Automotive in Palmdale, about 60 miles north of Los Angeles.

"I just opened up the shop like I do every morning and she came out from a little cubby-hole we have back there and just stumped me against the wall and took off,” said Barkerfelt. “She wasn't aggressive at all. No teeth, no nothing."

Barkerfelt called for help afterward.

“I hear these stories, but you never think it’s gonna happen to you,” he said.

California Fish and Wildlife officers pursued the animal until they captured and tranquilized it. The lion was later released back into the wild.