A mountain lion in a casino? Don't roulette out

[August 25, 2012]  RENO, Nev. (AP) -- An underage mountain lion has been caught after trying to slip into a casino in downtown Reno, Nev., ahead of the breakfast rush.

Nevada Department of Wildlife spokesman Chris Healy says the young male cat's behavior was "almost the equivalent of being a stupid teenager."

Healy says coming-of-age cougars often end up where they shouldn't after being chased out of a territory by adults.

Guests at Harrah's reported seeing the 100-pound cat trying to walk into the casino Friday morning. When the animal couldn't negotiate the revolving door, it hid under an outdoor stage in a nearby plaza.

State wildlife officials tranquilized the roughly 2-year-old cat and plan to release it into the wild after tagging it for participation in a University of Nevada, Reno study.

No injuries were reported.

[Associated Press; By MARTIN GRIFFITH]

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