Mountain lion roams Douglas

By Larry Blaskey
The Daily Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 8:43 PM MST


Here kitty, kitty, kitty.


It might be the right technique in trying to coax down a treed cat, but the same can’t be said for a mountain lion.

Douglas Police and Animal Control chased a full-grown  mountain lion in the city the better part of Sunday before catching up to it late that evening.

It all started at 9 a.m. that day when Danny Munoz’ neighbor came by to ask to use his phone to call  the Douglas Police about a cat in a tree in his backyard at the 1200 block of F Avenue.

Upon closer inspection, that cat got a little bigger, and bigger until Munoz discovered it was an 18-month-old, full-grown mountain lion.

At that point they both backed off and called the police The police arrived at about 10 a.m.,  but the lion got spooked and took off, while the police and Animal Control trailed it for two hours.

The animal eventually was located in the backyard of a residence  on A Avenue. Arizona Game and Fish Officer Alicia Johns was called in to take care of the animal.

“When I got there, the animal was treed and half sedated. After further discussion, I learned that the mountain lion had actually been in and around town and the parks for about two days,” she said.

She said the animal really wasn’t sedated and because of his continuing living pattern in and around town, the decision was made to kill the animal.

“It was a dangerous situation and one that may not be resolved by simply removing him from the community. He had adopted an abnormal living pattern.”

Johns said this is the first mountain lion sighting this close to the city that she had heard of.

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Krenb wrote on Jun 3, 2008 12:00 PM:

    " I would like to quote Rachel Carson when she said:

    "Until we can learn to appreciate the valued life with which we share the earth, we shall not be truly human...."


    There is no good reason to kill a helpless animal. I am in total
    agreement with all those who submitted comments above.

    To those who have be given the task of protecting wildlife they are usually the ones that destroy it!

    I would write a letter to the Governor as well. "

    MN wrote on Mar 7, 2008 7:10 PM:

    " According to the Az Game & Fish regulations regarding mountain lions, it seems that this animal was destroyed for illegitimate reasons. The information publicized did not state that the cat showed aggression toward people or other animals. Also, it did not state the basis for the assumption that the cat was in town more than a day. What may have been the real purpose of this unecessary event? You can view info. online about the subject at the Az Game & Fish website. "

    George Kaine wrote on Mar 7, 2008 9:05 AM:

    " Has everyone forgotten Warner Glenn who takes lions out of trees with a rope? "

    CatLover wrote on Mar 6, 2008 9:49 PM:

    " How long was this animal in town? Was there any attempt to warn the public? Why wasn't it tranquilized and relocated? I don't believe the proper protocol was followed. What a trajedy for this animal.
    I am a firearms safety insturctor certified by AZ Fish and Game. "

    Confused wrote on Mar 6, 2008 3:12 PM:

    " When did we just start killing animals without trying to protect them. This doesn't seem right. "

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