Mountain lion sighting in Trego Co.
Published on -10/20/2009, 12:19 PM
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By MIKE CORN
Wildlife officials have confirmed the sighting of a mountain lion in Trego County, only the second in Kansas in more than 100 years.
The sighting, brought to the attention of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, was made in early October by a deer hunter northwest of WaKeeney.
Although he wasn't identified, the hunter apparently saw the lion approaching his deer stand, grabbed a camera and took several pictures.
The lion materialized near a pile of corn the man was hunting over and approached within 10 feet of the hunter, according to a statement issued Monday evening by KDWP.
"They aren't real good pictures," said Mike Mitchener, wildlife section chief for KDWP.
But KDWP personnel were able to use the photos to confirm that it was a lion.
"They're good enough," Mitchener said of being able to confirm it was a lion in the photos.
The Trego County sighting would be the second since 1904, when the last lion was killed in Ellis County.
"I believe it was around Victoria," Mitchener said.
In November 2007, a young male mountain lion was shot and killed by a landowner in Barber County. That man eventually was charged with shooting the lion and keeping its pelt.
Because there's no open hunting season for mountain lions in Kansas, it's illegal to kill them. Landowners can kill wildlife on their premises, including mountain lions, for damage to property or for being in or near buildings, but they cannot keep the animals after they have been shot.
Mitchener said the hunter in Trego County was able to take several pictures of the big cat as it was moving around in the clearing where the corn pile was located.
"It was less than a minute this cat was around there," he said.
"KDWP received photographs of the animal, and staff were able to verify that the location was in Kansas, and the story seemed legitimate," said Matt Peek, KDWP furbearer research biologist.
It's unknown where the mountain lion might have come from, but they have been seen with increasing frequency in other surrounding states since the 1990s. Most of the animals sighted elsewhere have been young males, capable of moving hundreds of miles in search of females and suitable habitat.
"KDWP receives numerous reports of mountain lion sightings annually," Peek said. "But almost all have either been cases of mistaken identity or lacked physical evidence indicating a mountain lion had been present."
"This is the first time that I know of that we've had pictures sent to us that you could tell what it was," Mitchener said.
so if a animal comes near your house, you're able to kill it? sounds like open season to me.
(Posted by: cade)
Lion: 10/22/2009
If anyone in western Ks. for any amount of years doesn't believe they (mountain lions) are here, they are soooo mistaken. They obviously haven't seen the cat itself, tracks or mutilated cattle or horses. They have been here for years. They are here KDWP & YOU know it! Why won't KDWP admit it???
(Posted by: skoalman)
Hunting?: 10/22/2009
Is it really called hunting when you sit and wait for a deer to come up to your huge corn pile? That is called baiting and waiting in my books.
(Posted by: And you call yourself a hunter?)
Mountain?: 10/21/2009
Should a mountain lion, still be called a mountain lion...in Kansas, prairie lion, maybe?
(Posted by: deleted)
lion: 10/21/2009
you wouldn't take good pics either if something that could climb your deer stand and eat you was 10 feet away. Ever seen an elk in KS? They're here. Kansas Wildlife Mag. had pic of a Moose crossing Kansas on the front cover one year. Anything is possible.
(Posted by: mscott)
mountain lion sighting: 10/21/2009
Hundreds of people have known their are mountain lions in Kansas for many years. KDWP just writes them all off as liars. Not to mention the fear of being charged with the shooting....
(Posted by: already knew this)
: 10/21/2009
With small children playing outside and the Salina River in my back yard, if I see one it will DIE...then I will call the KDWP...then they will have proof...
(Posted by: Fairport, KS)
Cat: 10/21/2009
It's like bigfoot everybody see him, but the photos always suck or they have no photo. If a cat get that close to a buliding you better grab a gun.
(Posted by: Fred)
mountain lion: 10/21/2009
In 2004 there was a lion 10 feet from our back porch in the middle of the day! I wish my husband grabbed the camera instead of the gun. Rural Rooks County resident.
(Posted by: believer2)
DENIAL: 10/20/2009
No way, not in KS. even though several reputable people have seen them over the past umpteen years, they don't exist.HUH KDWP
(Posted by: witness)
Hunting?: 10/20/2009
... so you can kill a cat for being "near a building" any time any where, that sounds like open season to me. What's their definition of "near"?
(Posted by: RJohn)
very odd: 10/20/2009
With as many sightings as have been in Rooks & Phillips county - including footprints - interesting that they say so few only 2 in 100 years.
(Posted by: believer)
HI: 10/20/2009
that's an odd case...
(Posted by: Cayle Hubert)
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