A rare mountain lion's sighting sparked interest as the animal was recently spotted in Kansas, a state not known for wild cats.
According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT), the adult mountain lion was seen carrying its porcupine prey in Kiowa County, about 115 miles west of Wichita.
One of the Few Sightings
Mountain lions are so elusive that there are only a few confirmed sightings of this wild animal since 1904. The recent case, which was caught by a trail camera, is just one of the 29 confirmed sightings recorded since 2007.
The recently seen lion may be the same mountain lion spotted within a 20-mile area less than three months ago. If confirmed, this would be the first time multiple photos of a cat is captured within a time frame that could indicate whether a lion is making itself at home in the area.
However, the wildlife department cannot ascertain this at the moment, as it could be a different lion coincidentally in the same area. Kansas wildlife research biologist Matt Peek said that some cats had been spotted multiple times, so the exact number of mountain lions in the area is unclear.
A resident lion's presence is not yet confirmed as the cats seem to be passing through Kansas rather than establishing home ranges in the state. Most of the verified sightings are of transient young males from established populations in nearby states.
Mountain lions are more common in the Oklahoma panhandle and Colorado, within 75 miles of the border of southwest Kansas.
Mistaken Identity
In the past, sightings of mountain lions have been reported in Kansas. However, these reports turn out to be bobcats, which have shorter tails. Bobcats are also smaller than the calm and quiet mountain lion, which can grow to 6 feet in length and weigh up to 145 pounds.
Aside from bobcats, domestic cats, coyotes, and dogs are also sometimes mistaken for mountain lions. To confirm whether the animals spotted are actually mountain lions, KDWPT studies evidence including tracks, a cached kill, droppings, fur, pictures, or videos.
Most of the wild cat's documented sightings were captured by remote, motion-triggered cameras commonly used by hunters. The department's staff may also visit the location where photos were taken to examine certain images' features further.
READ: 3-Week-Old Mountain Lion Cub Rescued From California Fire
Previous Encounters
In 2007, a mountain lion was shot and killed in Barber County in south-central Texas. This was the first confirmed sighting of the animal in modern times.
Another one of its kind was also spotted in January 2019. However, the male mountain lion was killed by a group of upland bird hunters in Ellis County.
Before 2007, the last documented sighting was in 1904, with the mountain lion killed in Ellis County.
According to the Mountain Lion Foundation, the animals used to roam the forest and hills in Kansas and neighboring states before European settlement.
As wildlands have been converted to agricultural areas, the population of mountain lions declined. Other factors contributing to the extirpation of the said species in Kansas were direct persecution, development of roads and highways, and other forms of habitat loss.
READ: Local Extinction of Southern California Mountain Lions Possible Within 50 Years
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