Mountain Lion Killed in Kansas

timb

New member
Got this from KDWP this afternoon. It will be posted on the KDWP's website later today.

Interesting story--KDWP has been denying that there were lions here for the last couple of years. We'll see what happens. Looks like the guy might be in trouble!

Regards,
Tim

KDWP INVESTIGATING REPORTED KILLING OF MOUNTAIN LION IN STATE
Officers searching for more clues on origin of cat

Kansas Wildlife and Parks officers are investigating the alleged killing of a mountain lion, also known as a cougar or puma, in southcentral Kansas last fall. Investigators learned of the case three weeks ago.

A Barber County landowner apparently killed the cougar on his own property last November. He was cutting wood when he noticed the cat in some tall grass nearby, retrieved a firearm from his truck, and shot the animal.

Investigators took possession of the pelt of the mountain lion and hope to obtain the skull. The animal had been provided to a taxidermist in Texas, and the remainder of the carcass had been disposed of. There is no outward indication the mountain lion had been in captivity, and Department personnel hope additional analyses could lead to clues indicating from where it might have originated.

Although sightings are often reported to the Department, the last wild mountain lion documented in Kansas was killed in Ellis County in 1904. However, mountain lions are known to occur in Colorado within 75 miles of the border of southwest Kansas, and have been documented with increasing frequency in recent years in the Panhandle of Oklahoma. Mountain lions have also been dispersing out of the Black Hills of South Dakota for more than a decade into several Midwestern states. In anticipation that mountain lions would appear in Kansas as they had in other Midwestern states, the Department completed a response plan in July 2004 to guide their response to the presence of mountain lions under various scenarios.

No hunting season for mountain lion has been established in Kansas, and they may not be killed for mere presence. Landowners are permitted to destroy wildlife, including mountain lions, found in or near buildings on their premises or when destroying property, but may not possess such animals with intent to use unless authorized. Pending completion of ongoing investigations, the landowner who allegedly killed the mountain could be cited for killing and/or possession of the cat. The investigations could take several weeks.









 
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I understand some of the reluctance for states to play down the presence if Cougars, due to the potential for panic among homeowners even though they tend to shy away from people under normal conditions.

What I don't understand is their taking the position of a land/property owner that kills one under the legal guidelines, not being allowed to keep the pelt, etc... I can understand the questionable ones being investigated, but after it was determined to be a legal kill, why the confiscation???
 
OT,
I think that's the problem--they are trying to determine if it was taken legal or not. I can guaranty that if this happened to me, the first person I would call is the Conservation Officer. First to make sure he new that it was in self-defense /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif , and secondly to prove to the Department that they were here!
Tim
 
Its been about 5 years ago now, my son was hunting deer in a CRP field. He was walking along when he got the feeling of someone/thing watching him. He used his binoculars to look around. Found a big kitty starring back at him. He just gets his rifle pulled up when the cat took off. Son said it was most definately a mountain lion.

I know a rancher that had a good size deer in one of his water tanks last spring. The deer had claw marks that was wider than he could spread his fingers going from neck up to top of back. He called F&G and they told him it was a dog.

Supposedly our wonderful F&G folks turned out mountain lions in the early 90's to help control the deer population. When the ranchers started complaining about seeing them is when the F&G started denying them being in the state.


Going by article it says last one was in early 1900's, what about the one that was run over in KC/Overland Park a few years back??
 
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Going by article it says last one was in early 1900's, what about the one that was run over in KC/Overland Park a few years back??



/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif Right! There was also one that was caught on a trail cam in Lawrence near KU's campus!

Don't want to bag too much on the KDWP guys, but a lot of the sightings have been passed off as cats that were 'captive' and got loose!
Tim
 
There is also another rancher that shot one in the area. He was out checking his cattle saw it, got his trusty rifle out and shot it. Loaded it on the back of his pickup and went on with checking his cattle. He gets back to his house and about 30 min later F&G show up. Seems this was one of the first they had turned out and had a tracking chip in it.

A good friend has seen 2 of them while doing farm work. Both times there were at least 2 people seeing the same thing.

I do believe they are in the state. When they get to causing problems for the ranchers it is going to be katy bar the door. Just like the claw marks on the above deer, just how big of dog would it take to make claw marks like that? And then you get to thinking, have you ever seen a dog actually use its claws?
 
It's fairly common for Game and Fish Depatrments have a requirement that a land owner can not utilize any part of a game animal taken in the act of depredation, the is harming livestock or threatening livestock or property. Basically, you shoot it, you leave it where it was shot. The rancher skinned it and attempted to utilize some or all of the carcass for personal use. Very likely that is where the rancher broke the law.
 
Will,
No problem! Everyone on the Hunter Ed Advisory committee got a heads up from the HE dept. if we were asked about it ahead of time.

Looks like the Wichita Eagle had a good article. The guy is lucky he is cooperating as the CO indicated that felony charges could have been filed!

Tim
 
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