Lion killed after being captured in Col. Falls

The Daily Inter Lake

A mountain lion captured Saturday evening in Columbia Falls was euthanized Tuesday night after it became clear that no accredited zoo could take the animal.

A local veterinarian assisted in putting down the 120-pound adult male, Jim Williams, regional wildlife manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said in a news release.

Williams said mountain lions in urban areas pose a threat to public safety, so the department has a policy that prohibits relocating captured lions into occupied lion habitat.

In this case, Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials in Helena conducted a search for an accredited zoo, but none could take the cat.

On Saturday evening, the lion was reported in a tree within the city limits of Columbia Falls at the intersection of Fifth Avenue West and 12th Street.

When State Wildlife Conflict Specialist Erik Wenum arrived at the scene, a crowd had gathered to see the lion, which was about 30 feet up the tree.

The Columbia Falls Fire Department arrived with a lift bucket to assist.

Wenum used a tranquilizer dart to capture the animal and the fire department brought the lion to the ground. Wenum transported the lion to a holding facility.