This is the captivating moment a mountain lion is released from a toe trap.
The majestic creature was accidentally snared by the device, which was laid down to capture bobcats and coyotes.
Nail-biting footage shows a brave trapper unhook its enormous paw and let it run away.
As he approaches the huge cat with a noose on the end of a pole, it hisses and claws furiously in his direction.
Backing around a tree in a blind panic, the animal throws up a cloud of dust as it tries to wrench its paw free.
The trapper eventually manages to hook the noose around its neck – but it continues to growl menacingly, clawing at the pole.
This is the captivating moment a mountain lion is released from a toe trap intended to catch bobcats and coyotes in the city of Helper in Utah, USA
The majestic creature was accidentally snared by the device (above: its toe is wedged in the trap)
Flailing its limbs wildly in all directions in the hot sand, the cat is eventually wrestled to the floor.
Using one hand to keep it pinned down with the noose, the trapper uses his foot to try to unhook the creature’s paw.
He then knees down and wrenches the trap off with one hand.
As the trapper approaches the huge cat with a noose on the end of a pole, it hisses and claws furiously in his direction
He eventually manages to hook the noose around the creature’s neck and wrestle it to the floor
Using one hand to keep it pinned down with the noose, the trapper uses his hand and foot to unhook its paw
Realising it is free, the mountain lion claws at the air and hisses.
Meanwhile, the trapper unhooks the animal’s neck from the noose and within seconds darts away from the distressed beast.
The footage, filmed in December last year, was shot in the city of Helper in Utah, USA.