Lion that frightened campers shot

MISSOULA — Authorities shot and killed a young, male mountain lion suspected of stalking a child at Harpers Lake and frightening other campers in the Clearwater Junction area during the past two weeks, wildlife officials said Thursday.

Wardens shot the cat Wednesday after it frightened an Oregon woman walking a dog outside a cabin about 40 miles northeast of Missoula, said Mike Thompson, wildlife manager with the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Patrick Muri, the woman’s boyfriend, told KECI-TV he fired several shots to frighten the cat up a tree.

Based on its behavior and description, the cat was the same one that stalked the 4-year-old girl and frightened campers near Harpers Lake about two weeks ago and could not be frightened away, officials said.

“We are relieved to have this lion out of the area,” biologist Jay Kolbe said. “Its approach on that child last week was a signal that this lion might continue approaching people.”

The 117-pound lion shot several miles north of Harpers Lake had little fat and an empty stomach. Its carcass was being taken to the state wildlife lab in Bozeman for further examination.

Kolbe suspects a different set of lions have been spotted recently at Salmon Lake Campground along U.S. 83 north of Clearwater Junction.