More mountain lions

[Liberty Belle]

I haven't posted anything about mountain lions for awhile, but here's the story of one killed earlier in the week not too far north of us:

Mountain Lion Killed Sunday in Western North Dakota
7-10-06

A female mountain lion was killed on a ranch in western North Dakota early Sunday morning east of Watford City in the badlands, according to Brent Schwan, state Game and Fish Department district game warden, Watford City.

According to Schwan, the rancher heard a commotion involving his dogs and went to investigate, saw a mountain lion treed about 50 yards from his house, went in the house to get a rifle, and upon returning the lion was on the ground in a confrontation with his dogs. The lion was then shot.

The rancher immediately contacted Schwan, who was on the scene an hour later. Schwan retrieved the carcass and transported it to Dickinson where it is being stored in a freezer until a full examination can occur.

The lion appeared to be a young female weighing approximately 80 pounds. The Game and Fish Department will be doing an analysis of the carcass later this week to obtain all pertinent biological information.

Schwan said the rancher was well within the law in killing the lion. State law specifically allows the killing of mountain lions to protect individuals or their property. The law also requires the Game and Fish Department must be notified - which the rancher did.

The Game and Fish Department implemented the first experimental mountain lion season in North Dakota last fall to learn more about the current status of these animals in North Dakota, and to gather biological information on mountain lions in the state. The season opened Sept. 2, 2005 and ended Jan. 15 after a predetermined quota of five cats was reached.

A second experimental season will be held this year. The season is tentatively set to open Sept. 1 and continue through March 11, 2007, or until a predetermined quota of five cats has been filled. The animal taken this weekend near Watford City will not be included in the quota for the upcoming season.

http://gf.nd.gov/news/current.html

 

[Liberty Belle]

I found this online. It says that is not intended to scare anyone, but it makes me plenty nervous!!

Fatal Mountain Lion Attacks
The following information is not intended to scare anyone about mountain lions but merely provide information regarding the rare but fatal attacks by wild cougars.

1. California - June 1890 7 year old boy killed by two lions while playing near his home in Siskiyou County.
2. California - July 1909 Rabid cougar attacks woman and child who survived the attack but died later from rabies.
3. Washington - December 1924 13 year old boy attacked and killed by a 3 year old healthy male cougar.
4. British Columbia - June 1949 7 year old boy was attacked and killed while walking on the beach
5. British Columbia - January 1971 12 year old boy attacked and killed by male cougar while playing with his sisters.
6. New Mexico - January 1974 8 year old boy killed by 3 year old female cougar
7. British Columbia - July 1976 7 year old girl killed by 2 year old male lion on Vancouver Island.
8. British Columbia - May 1988 9 year old boy stalked and killed by 4 year old male mountain Lion.
9. Montana - September 1989 a 5 year old boy was attacked and killed by at least two possibly three cougars.
10. Colorado - January 1991 18 year old boy killed while jogging on his high school track
11. California - March 1991 3 year old attacked and killed by cougar.
12. British Columbia - May 1992, 7 year old boy attacked and killed while playing in the school yard. the young female cougar was killed at the scene.
13. California - April 1994, 40 year old, female long distance runner was attacked and killed while jogging in the Auburn State Recreation area.
14. California - December 1994 56 year old woman was killed while hiking alone in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.
15. British Columbia - August 1996, Mother killed while defending her 6 year old son on horse back riding trip.
16. Colorado - July 1997, 10 year old boy killed by an adult female cougar while hiking in Ricky Mountain National Park.
17. Colorado - October 1999, 3 year old missing boys remains found and evidence suggests killed by Mountain Lion.
18. Alberta - January 2001 30 year old female skier killed by mountain in Banff National Park.
19. Arkansas - May 2003 41 year old woman was killed in her yard by what was most likely a cougar.
20. California - January 2004 35 year old male attacked and killed and partially consumed while mountain biking.

The sources for this information include the California Department of Fish and Game, Paul Beier's Cougar attacks, and various news articles that are linked to above where the link is still active.

http://www.southeasternoutdoors.com/wildlife/mammals/mountain-lion-attacks-fatal.html