Photo "Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation"
MDC confirms mountain lion photo taken at Rocky Creek
mdc.mo.govby Joe Jerek
September 27, 2011
EMINENCE, Mo – The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Mountain Lion Response Team has confirmed a trail-camera photograph of a mountain lion taken Sept. 20 at the Rocky Creek Conservation Area southwest of Eminence in Shannon County.
. MDC conservation agents confirmed the location of the photo, which shows a mountain lion moving away from the camera.
MDC Wildlife Damage Biologist Rex Martensen, who is a member of the Response Team, said that widely scattered mountain-lion sightings have been confirmed in Missouri and likely will continue. Recent confirmed sightings include two trail-camera photographs in Shannon County and one in Oregon County. A cougar was also recently shot by a landowner in Texas County.
Based on the lack of distinguishing physical characteristics, Martensen said that MDC does not know if the Rocky Creek, Shannon County and Oregon County photos are of the same animal.
He added that evidence to date indicates these animals are dispersing from other states to the west of Missouri. The most extreme evidence of this dispersal occurred in early 2011 when a mountain lion that was killed in Connecticut was genetically traced to South Dakota. MDC has no confirmed evidence of a breeding population in Missouri.
“MDC receives many reports each year from people who believe they have seen mountain lions,” Martensen said. “We encourage these reports, but we can only confirm those for which there is physical evidence such as hair, scat, footprints, photos, video, a dead cougar or prey showing evidence of mountain-lion attack.”
Reports of sightings can be emailed to mountain.lion@mdc.mo.gov, or by contacting local conservation agents or the Response Team at 573-882-9909, ext. 3211, or 573-522-4115, ext. 3147 or 3262.
Martensen added that mountain lions are naturally shy of humans and generally pose little danger to people, even in states with thriving breeding populations. Although mountain lions are protected by law, Missouri’s Wildlife Code does allow people to protect themselves and their property if they feel threatened.
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MDC confirms second photo of mountain lion in Shannon County
by Francis SkalickySept 11, 2011
MOUNTAIN VIEW Mo – The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Mountain Lion Response Team has confirmed a second trail-camera photograph of a mountain lion taken near Mountain View on the property of Shannon County landowner John Collins. This latest photo, taken Sept. 4, follows a confirmed trail-camera photo taken at the same location on July 29.
MDC reported earlier this week that a Texas-County landowner shot a subadult male cougar on his property on Sept. 5. MDC also recently confirmed a trail-camera photo of a mountain lion taken on private land Aug. 23 in Oregon County.
MDC Biologist Jeff Beringer, a member of the Response Team, said that the photos from Shannon County and Oregon County are not of the mountain lion shot in Texas County.
“The Texas-County cat had a shortened tail with no black tip,” Beringer explained. “The mountain lions in these photos have full-sized, normal tails.”
Based on limited photographic evidence, Beringer said MDC does not know if the Shannon County and Oregon County photos are of the same mountain lion. He added that widely scattered mountain-lion sightings have been confirmed in Missouri and likely will continue. Evidence to date indicates these animals are dispersing from other states to the west of Missouri. The most extreme evidence of this dispersal occurred in early 2011 when a mountain lion that was killed in Connecticut was genetically traced to South Dakota. MDC has no confirmed evidence of a breeding population in Missouri.
MDC receives many reports each year from people who believe they have seen mountain lions.
“We encourage these reports, but we can only confirm those for which there is physical evidence such as hair, scat, footprints, photos, video, a dead cougar or prey showing evidence of mountain-lion attack,” said Beringer. Reports of sightings can be sent to mountain.lion@mdc.mo.gov, or by contacting Beringer at 573-882-9909, ext. 3211, Rex Martensen at 573-522-4115, ext. 3147, or Shawn Gruber at 573-522-4115, ext. 3262.
Beringer added that mountain lions are naturally shy of humans and generally pose little danger to people, even in states with thriving breeding populations. Although mountain lions are protected by law, Missouri’s Wildlife Code does allow people to protect themselves and their property if they feel threatened.
SEE MORE SIGHTINGS
- 21. September 2011 — Shannon County
- A photograph was taken by a motion-activated game camera. The Department's Mountain Lion Response Team confirmed the location of the image as being the same as #18 taken in July.
- 20. September 2011 — Texas County
- Subadult male shot by a landowner. No obvious signs of confinement. DNA analysis pending.
- 19. August 2011 — Oregon County
- A photograph was taken by a motion-activated game camera. The Department's Mountain Lion Response Team confirmed the location of the image.
- 18. July 2011 — Shannon County
- A photograph was taken by a motion-activated game camera. The Department's Mountain Lion Response Team confirmed the location of the image.
- 17. May 2011 — Macon County
- Citizen sent photos of tracks in a muddy creekbed. The Department's Mountain Lion Response Team confirmed the tracks to be those of a mountain lion.
- 16. March 2011 — Oregon County
- Citizen reported observing a mountain lion jump a fence. DNA analysis of hairs collected at the scene confirmed species; ancestry analysis is underway.
- 15. January 2011 — Macon County
- Subadult male shot by coyote hunters. No obvious signs of confinement. DNA analysis determined this mountain lion was likely a descendant of a South Dakota population.
- 14. January 2011 — St. Louis County
- Photo of probable subadult disperser taken by motion-activated game camera.
- 13. January 2011 — Ray County
- Subadult male treed and shot by raccoon hunters. No obvious signs of confinement. DNA analysis determined this mountain lion was likely a descendant of a South Dakota population.
- 12. December 2010 — Linn County
- Photo of probable subadult disperser taken by motion-activated game camera.
- 11. November 2010 — Platte County
- Photo of probable subadult disperser taken by landowner. DNA analysis of hair samples collected from the scene could not confirm ancestry.
- 10. December 2006 — Livingston County
- A photograph of a probable subadult was taken by a motion-activated game camera.
- 9. November 2006 — Shannon County
- Tracks and deer carcass characteristic of a mountain lion kill were found.
- 8. August 2003 — Callaway County
- An approximately 1 1/2-year-old male road kill. There were no obvious signs that it was formerly a captive animal. DNA analysis revealed its origin to be North America.
- 7. October 2002 — Clay County
- A two- to three-year-old male road kill. DNA analysis revealed its origin to be North America.
- 6. December 2001 — Pulaski County
- A photograph was taken by a motion-activated game camera. After a lengthy evaluation, it was determined that it was likely a small, subadult mountain lion.
- 5. December 2000 — Lewis County
- A video was taken by a deer hunter from a tree stand.
- 4. January 1999 — Texas County
- An adult-sized lion was treed by a rabbit hunter’s dogs. Tracks in the snow (photos taken) and two deer carcasses characteristic of lion kills were found nearby.
- 3. January 1997 — Christian County
- A video was taken by a property owner. The animal’s behavior suggested it had once been held in captivity.
- 2. November 1996 — Reynolds County
- A conservation agent video-recorded a mountain lion with a deer carcass.
- 1. December 1994 — Carter County
- A small adult female was treed and shot by two raccoon hunters near Peck Ranch Conservation Area. The carcass was never recovered, but a photo was obtained of the animal on a truck tailgate. Federal authorities fined each hunter $2,000. In Nov. 1998, a deer hunter found the skinned pelt of a small adult, a female, with head and feet attached, near a remote Texas County road. Although evidence suggests this is the same animal killed in Carter County, it cannot be confirmed absolutely.
Mountain lion shot by landowner in Texas County
SUMMERSVILLE, Mo – A landowner in Texas County shot a mountain lion on Sept. 5 after encountering it on his property. The landowner then called Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) regional offices to report the incident. Shannon County Conservation Agent Justin Emery responded to the incident and conducted an investigation. Emery found no grounds for charges at this time. Although mountain lions are protected by law, Missouri’s Wildlife Code does allow people to protect themselves and their property if they feel threatened.MDC took possession of the subadult male mountain lion, which will be used for educational purposes and DNA testing.
The incident occurred approximately three miles from where a Shannon County landowner’s trail camera captured an image of a mountain lion on July 29. In a separate sighting, an Oregon County landowner captured an image on his trail camera of a mountain lion on Aug. 23 northeast of Alton.
MDC Biologist Jeff Beringer, who is a member of MDC’s Mountain Lion Response Team, says that widely scattered mountain lion sightings have been confirmed in Missouri and likely will continue. Evidence to date indicates these animals are dispersing from other states to the west of Missouri. The most extreme evidence of this dispersal occurred in early 2011 when a mountain lion that was killed in Connecticut was genetically traced to South Dakota.
MDC has no confirmed evidence of a breeding population in Missouri.
MDC receives many reports each year from people who believe they have seen mountain lions.
“We encourage these reports, but we can only confirm those for which there is physical evidence such as hair, scat, footprints, photos, video, a dead cougar or prey showing evidence of mountain-lion attack,” says Beringer.
Reports of sightings can be sent to mountain.lion@mdc.mo.gov, or by contacting Beringer at 573-882-9909, ext. 3211, Rex Martensen at 573-522-4115, ext. 3147, or Shawn Gruber at 573-522-4115, ext. 3262.
Beringer adds that mountain lions are naturally shy of humans and generally pose little danger to people, even in states with thriving breeding populations.
For more information, visit www.mdc.mo.gov and search “mountain lion.”
Mountain lion photographed in Oregon County
by Francis SkalickySeptember 1, 2011
ALTON, Mo -- A landowner’s trail camera has confirmed a mountain lion sighting in Oregon County. The camera image, which was of the back-portion of a mountain lion, was sent to Conservation Agent Brad Hadley on Aug. 29. Hadley forwarded the image on to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Mountain Lion Response Team. The image was taken on August 23 on private land near the Eleven Point River northeast of Alton. Conservation agents Hadley and Paul Veatch visited the site on Aug 29 and confirmed the location of the image.
MDC Biologist Jeff Beringer, who is a member of the Response Team, says that widely scattered mountain lion sightings have been confirmed in Missouri and likely will continue. Evidence to date indicates these animals are dispersing from other states to the west of Missouri. The most extreme evidence of this dispersal occurred earlier this year when a mountain lion that was killed in Connecticut was genetically traced to South Dakota.
MDC has no confirmed evidence of a breeding population in Missouri.
MDC receives many reports each year from people who believe they have seen mountain lions.
“We encourage these reports, but we can only confirm those for which there is physical evidence such as hair, scat, footprints, photos, video, a dead cougar or prey showing evidence of mountain-lion attack,” says Beringer.
Reports of sightings can be sent to mountain.lion@mdc.mo.gov, or by contacting Beringer at 573-882-9909, ext. 3211, Rex Martensen at 573-522-4115, ext. 3147, or Shawn Gruber at 573-522-4115, ext. 3262.
Mountain lions are naturally shy of humans and generally pose little danger to people, even in states with thriving breeding populations. Although they are protected by law, Missouri’s Wildlife Code does allow people to protect themselves and their property if necessary.
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Photo "Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation"
_________________________________________________________________________mdc.mo.gov
Aug. 12, 2011
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Mountian lion photographed in Shannon County Missouri
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Mo -- A landowner’s trail camera has confirmed a mountain lion sighting in Shannon County. The landowner emailed the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Mountain Lion Response Team on Aug. 6 with a camera image of a mountain lion walking through a clearing. The image was taken on July 29 on private land at the west edge of the county near Mountain View. Shannon County Conservation Agent Brad Hadley visited the site on Aug 9. and confirmed the location of the image.
MDC Biologist Jeff Beringer says that widely scattered mountain lion sightings have been confirmed in Missouri and likely will continue. Evidence to date indicates these animals are dispersing from other states to the west of Missouri. The most extreme evidence of this dispersal occurred earlier this year when a mountain lion that was killed in Connecticut was genetically traced to South Dakota.
MDC has no confirmed evidence of a breeding population in Missouri.
MDC receives many reports each year from people who believe they have seen mountain lions.
“We encourage these reports, but we can only confirm those for which there is physical evidence such as hair, scat, footprints, photos, video, a dead cougar or prey showing evidence of mountain-lion attack,” says Beringer, who is a member of the Response Team.
Reports of sightings can be sent to mountain.lion@mdc.mo.gov, or by contacting Beringer at 573-882-9909, ext. 3211, Rex Martensen at 573-522-4115, ext. 3147, or Shawn Gruber at 573-522-4115, ext. 3262.
Mountain lions are naturally shy of humans and generally pose little danger to people, even in states with thriving breeding populations. Although they are protected by law, Missouri’s Wildlife Code does allow people to protect themselves and their property if necessary.
For more information visit www.missouriconservation.org and search “mountain lion.”
Confirmed Sightings
SEE MORE SIGHTINGS
- 18. July 2011 — Shannon County
- A photograph was taken by a motion-activated game camera.The Department's Mountain Lion Response Team confirmed the location of the image.
- 17. May 2011 — Macon County
- Citizen sent photos of tracks in a muddy creekbed. The Department's Mountain Lion Response Team confirmed the tracks to be those of a mountain lion.
- 16. March 2011 — Oregon County
- Citizen reported observing a mountain lion jump a fence. DNA analysis of hairs collected at the scene confirmed species; ancestry analysis is underway.
- 15. January 2011 — Macon County
- Subadult male shot by coyote hunters. No obvious signs of confinement. DNA analysis determined this mountain lion was likely a descendant of a South Dakota population.
- 14. January 2011 — St. Louis County
- Photo of probable subadult disperser taken by motion-activated game camera.
- 13. January 2011 — Ray County
- Subadult male treed and shot by raccoon hunters. No obvious signs of confinement. DNA analysis determined this mountain lion was likely a descendant of a South Dakota population.
- 12. December 2010 — Linn County
- Photo of probable subadult disperser taken by motion-activated game camera.
- 11. November 2010 — Platte County
- Photo of probable subadult disperser taken by landowner. DNA analysis of hair samples collected from the scene could not confirm ancestry.
- 10. December 2006 — Livingston County
- A photograph of a probable subadult was taken by a motion-activated game camera.
- 9. November 2006 — Shannon County
- Tracks and deer carcass characteristic of a mountain lion kill were found.
- 8. August 2003 — Callaway County
- An approximately 1 1/2-year-old male road kill. There were no obvious signs that it was formerly a captive animal. DNA analysis revealed its origin to be North America.
- 7. October 2002 — Clay County
- A two- to three-year-old male road kill. DNA analysis revealed its origin to be North America.
- 6. December 2001 — Pulaski County
- A photograph was taken by a motion-activated game camera. After a lengthy evaluation, it was determined that it was likely a small, subadult mountain lion.
- 5. December 2000 — Lewis County
- A video was taken by a deer hunter from a tree stand.
- 4. January 1999 — Texas County
- An adult-sized lion was treed by a rabbit hunter’s dogs. Tracks in the snow (photos taken) and two deer carcasses characteristic of lion kills were found nearby.
- 3. January 1997 — Christian County
- A video was taken by a property owner. The animal’s behavior suggested it had once been held in captivity.
- 2. November 1996 — Reynolds County
- A conservation agent video-recorded a mountain lion with a deer carcass.
- 1. December 1994 — Carter County
- A small adult female was treed and shot by two raccoon hunters near Peck Ranch Conservation Area. The carcass was never recovered, but a photo was obtained of the animal on a truck tailgate. Federal authorities fined each hunter $2,000. In Nov. 1998, a deer hunter found the skinned pelt of a small adult, a female, with head and feet attached, near a remote Texas County road. Although evidence suggests this is the same animal killed in Carter County, it cannot be confirmed absolutely.
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