CALIFORNIA BRIEFS

Firefighters have rescued a very big cat — a mountain lion — from a tree outside a home in the Southern California desert.

The homeowner called authorities Saturday after spotting the animal near the edge of the San Bernardino Mountains.

San Bernardino County firefighters found the large mountain lion perched on a branch about 50 feet high.

State wildlife personnel tranquilized the animal. Firefighters lowered it to the ground using a rescue harness.

A biologist evaluated the cougar before it was released back into the wild.

State Department of Fish and Wildlife Warden Rick Fischer says it’s not uncommon for mountain lions to wander outside their habitat in the nearby mountains.

Attacks on humans are rare but the big cats will prey on pets and livestock.

LOS ANGELES

Motorists are urged to use caution or avoid travel altogether on mountain roads as the latest in a string of winter storms moves into Southern California. Forecasters say Sunday that up to 10 inches of snow could fall in the mountains east of Los Angeles before the system moves through.

Lower elevations could see up to a half-inch of rain.

The National Weather Service warns that the Pacific storm will bring dangerous surf to beaches from the Central Coast south.

Transportation officials are still clearing mud and debris from a much more powerful storm that forced the closure of several highways last week.

Skies are clearing in Northern California but officials say delays are still possible on Interstate 80, the main route into Lake Tahoe that saw multiple accidents amid heavy snow on Friday.

— The Associated Press