6/15/2010 1:11:00 PM Mountain lion suspected in attack found, killed
WALKER -- The Arizona Game and Fish Department found and killed a mountain lion in the direct vicinity of a suspected attack involving a Prescott-area man on Sunday night.
The mountain lion was found less than 1/2 mile from the house where the reported attack occurred near Walker, southeast of Prescott.
The lion was estimated to be a 6- to 7-year-old female weighing approximately 75 pounds. The size of the lion is consistent with the tracks found at the attack site. A full necropsy will be done on the animal and the head will be submitted for rabies testing to help determine if disease or other physical ailment influenced the animal's behavior.
"There's really no way to be 100-percent certain this is the responsible animal without any material to submit for DNA testing," said Zen Mocarski, public information officer for the Game and Fish Kingman office. "However, the house where the reported attack took place was visible from the location where this mountain lion was removed."
Game and Fish will continue to monitor the neighborhood for lion activity as a public safety precaution.
The Game and Fish wildlife-human conflict policy, developed with extensive public input, provides guidance for the department when responding to reports of wildlife threatening or harming people or causing property damage.
"An attack by a predatory animal is not something you take lightly," said Jeff Pebworth, wildlife program manager in Kingman. "Public safety needs to be a priority in a case like this and our protocol is clear in regards to action. Had this mountain lion left the area, it's possible we wouldn't have heard anything else about this incident."
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, July 01, 2010
Article comment by:
Maia Peterson
In my opnion, man is the worst predatory animal there is. Do you know why she attacked? Thanks to us, she has no food, and less land. This was her home, so for that she is a threat? You people make me sick
Posted: Thursday, July 01, 2010
Article comment by:
michael Teply
I find it difficult to believe that this guy out ran a mountain lion. Nice story but not believable
