The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) recently confirmed a total of four mountain lion sightings in the state this year, with three sightings occurring this fall. An additional sighting is still being investigated, and if confirmed, Kansas may have a record year for mountain lion sightings.
On November 9th, a hunter’s trail camera on Fort Riley recorded a photo of a mountain lion. On November 20th, about 55 miles away, another hunter’s trail camera in Shawnee County snapped several photos of a mountain lion.
Four days later and about 20 miles away, a couple of young raccoon hunters in Wabaunsee County were hunting with a single hound when it bayed “treed.” They were quite surprised when they shined their lights into the tree and found a mountain lion staring back at them.
The hunters captured photos for evidence, and even called a few friends and family out to see the lion for themselves. Biologists later visited the site and were able to recover a few hairs from the tree limbs.
Since 2007, when the first mountain lion was confirmed in Kansas, 18 more have been added to the total. Most are presumed to be transient young male lions displaced from states north or west of Kansas.
A resident population, as indicated by the presence of kittens, adult females, or repeated documentations in the same vicinity, has not been observed nor confirmed.
Visit KSOutdoors.com > Wildlife & Nature > Wildlife Sightings for more information.
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism