State agency on verge of killing mountain lion

Repeated mountain-lion sightings in the heavily used Lone Pine State Park have put Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials on the verge of tracking and destroying the animal.

"If the lion is seen again, we will probably remove it," said Jim Williams, the state's regional wildlife manager. "We don't relocate lions. They are either left to do what lions do or they are removed."

A lion was seen by several visitors last week, and in one case, a group of hikers came across a mountain lion that was lying in brush. The animal scampered off only after the group approached within feet of it, Williams said.

It's unusual for a mountain lion to be seen repeatedly in a high-use area such as Lone Pine, a state park just a few miles southwest of Kalispell. That it is seen moving about in daylight "puts up a red flag" for Williams.

Signs warning about the recent sightings have been posted at the park.

Williams noted that there have been no sightings since Friday, so the animal easily could have moved along.

"We're in a wait-and-see mode," he said.

It there is another report, Williams said he has a houndsman on call who is ready to track the animal. That could be difficult during the summer, when scents lift quickly.

"It's extremely difficult to run a lion during the summer … unless there is a fresh kill, a deer carcass or if people report it right after a sighting," Williams said.

Any sightings at Lone Pine should be reported immediately to the Lone Pine Visitor Center or by calling Fish, Wildlife and Parks at 752-5501.

During an encounter with a mountain lion, a person first should back away slowly and should not run.

"With a mountain lion, the best thing is to be aggressive," Williams said. "Contrary to a bear encounter, you make noise, you throw rocks or sticks. You open your jacket up to make yourself look bigger. You essentially let the lion know that you are not a deer."

Also, pepper spray can be just as effective with a mountain lion as with bears, Williams said.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.