<text>  A mountain lion that wandered near a southern California shopping center died after being tranquilized by a game warden, officials say. The three-year-old, about 125-pound mountain lion was seen outside of the Macys at the Promenade Mall in Temecula at about 6am, NBC reports. The Riverside County Sheriffs Department contacted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A game warden shot the male mountain lion with a tranquilizer dart and moved it to the bed of a pickup truck to be transported to another location for public safety, The Los Angeles Times reports. The lion died while it was being transported. Mountain Lion: A mountain lion photographed that wandered near a southern California shopping center died after being tranquilized by a game warden . Truck: A game warden shot the male mountain lion with a tranquilizer dart and moved it to the bed of a pickup truck to be transported to another location for public safety . Lt. Patrick Foy, a fish and game spokesman, told the Times that it is currently unknown the exact cause of the mountain lions death, but a combination of stress and the drugs may have been a contributing factor. What Ive learned is that when no ones around and the lion or deer is stuck, you dart them and everything goes fine, Foy said. When youre in the middle of a parking lot and there are lots of people around, and there are police lights, the animal is very stressed, and thats when these sorts of things happen. The states fish and wildlife department is investigating if the mountain lion had pre-existing health issues, according to NBC. Stress: Lt. Patrick Foy, a fish and game spokesman, said that it is currently unknown the exact cause of the mountain lions death, but a combination of stress and the drugs may have been a contributing factor . Rare: spokesman with the department said that it is rare for an animal to die after being darted, and when one does, it is usually due to the dart damaging a sensitive area like the spine . A necropsy will be performed on the mountain lion. A spokesman with the department said that it is rare for an animal to die after being struck with a tranquilizer, and when one does, it is usually due to the dart damaging a sensitive area like the spine. They tried to do the right thing, Foy told NBC. They have the training and equipment to do the right thing... and it doesnt always work out. A witness told KTLA that the animal was underneath a trailer for about 45 minutes before authorities arrived. The mall wasnt open, and only a few store employees were around in the early hours. But the mountain lion was reportedly first spotted near a freeway. The animal was not aggressive, the LAT Times reports. Officials say the animal could have made his way to the mall area for a number of reasons including simply looking for a suitable habitat. Habitat: Officials say the animal could have made his way to the mall area for a number of reasons including simply looking for a suitable habitat . 