A Chillicothe man snapped a photograph of a mountain lion, believed to be 12 to 18 months old, marking the area’s first official confirmation of an actual sighting by the state’s Mountain Lion Response Team.
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According to a report published yesterday in the Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune, this is the first confirmed sighting (on Dec. 7th) anywhere in Missouri since a road-killed lion in Callaway County in 2003.
Veteran outdoorsman Joe Neis took the photograph in a rural area northeast of Chillicothe. Like many deer hunters, Neis uses trail cameras as a means of determining big bucks’ whereabouts so as to place his deer stands in good locations. Neis checks his cameras frequently, especially whenever he finds a camera shutter tripped. Imagine his surprise last Saturday morning – the picture of a mountain lion was not exactly what Joe was expecting!
There have been many reported sightings of lions in this area, but until now there was never enough evidence for the Missouri Department of Conservation’s team to conclusively verify any presence. The photo provided by Neis prompted no hesitancy. This sighting was immediately confirmed.
Team members say some young lion spots are still visible (which are usually gone by age 3), thus leading authorities to conclude the lion’s age. The lion appears to be healthy – and well fed.
Authorities guess that the lion probably came to Missouri from South Dakota, the closest state that has a "filled" mountain lion habitat (about 180-200 mountain lions probably producing about 40 young per year). In such circumstances, young mountain lions move away once they leave their mother. It is believed that a young lion could travel from South Dakota to Missouri in a month or less.
No evidence of a mountain lion kill was found. Authorities say that a mountain lion kills a deer (their favorite food) about once every 7 to 10 days. The lion may take 3-4 days eating its kill, usually not leaving its food during this time period. Then the lion moves on.
Mountain lions have a large home range of 12 to 24 square miles – thus, Daviess County which adjoins Livingston County is definitely within range of this particular mountain lion. Undoubtedly, this mountain lion is not the first in this area nor will it be the last.
The Mountain Lion Response Team includes Furbearer Biologist David Hamilton and Field Program Supervisor Rex Martensen. They were accompanied by MDC Technician Shauna Marquardt (otter research biologist already working in this area) during this confirmation process.
This official sighting in neighboring Livingston County may receive national attention since the very day of confirmation coincided with the arrival of a Washington D.C.-based magazine editor. Senior Field Editor Heidi Ridgley of wildlife’s "Defender" magazine accompanied the MDC team on their confirmation visit to Livingston County.