Mountain lion that killed cats put down

A cat-killing mountain lion was dispatched by state wildlife officials Thursday morning on a Whitefish Stage Road property just a few miles north of Kalispell.

Erik Wenum, a bear and mountain lion specialist with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, was notified by landowners Wednesday that a mountain had been seen in the area.

The lion had been seen in a barn, where it was killing barn cats.

On Thursday morning, the lion was spotted in another barn, prompting a response by Fish, Wildlife and Parks personnel. The mountain lion was found crouching under a deck.

A wildlife biologist crawled under the deck and killed the lion with a shotgun slug. The animal was a 75-pound female, just over a year old.

Wenum said it is not uncommon for young lions to frequent populated areas because they are not yet accomplished hunters and they lack established territories.

Because of public safety concerns, Fish, Wildlife and Parks policy calls for the removal of lions frequenting populated areas.

People who encounter habituated lions are urged to call Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks at 752-5501.