Scanner audio. Artistic rendering of a stuffed cougar getaway by John Ferrara.

A stuffed mountain lion valued at $4,000 was thought to be stolen from the Hoopa Valley Transfer Station today, when a gray pickup truck was seen driving off with the dead cat around 3 p.m.

Dump employees recognized the getaway truck as one belonging to an employee at an adjacent mill yard, and alerted Tribal Police — audio above.

Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District General Manager Julia Gulley told the Outpost that the cougar was returned after the suspect learned it wasn’t garbage.

“The mountain lion has been returned,” Gulley said. “Apparently the employee’s brother though it was garbage, and brought it back.”

Picture of the stuffed cougar provided by Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District General Manager Julia Gulley.