3 mountain lions found devouring human remains

Fred Gunner · Jan 2, 2020

Three mountain lions found eating human remains and determined to be a danger to the public near a popular Tucson hiking trail have been killed, Arizona officials said Wednesday.

While the animals were not considered linked to the deceased’s death, they failed to show any fear of officers trying to remove the remains, the Arizona Game and Fish Department said in a statement, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

Authorities closed off a portion of the Coronado National Forest for a day while officials attempted unsuccessfully to trap the mountain lions.

The medical examiner will try to identify and determine a cause of death for the victim, who was found Tuesday morning off the Pima Canyon Trail.

The trail – at the base of Mount Lemmon – reopened Wednesday, ahead of a planned Jan. 14 date, after authorities decided there was little danger to the public with the lions gone.

https://www.foxnews.com/science/3-mountain-lions-in-arizona-killed-after-feeding-on-human-remains.

Fred Gunner · Jan 2, 2020

TUSCAN, Ariz. — Officials killed three mountain lions who ate human remains close to a popular hiking trail.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department discovered the human remains Tuesday during an investigation at Pima Canyon Trail near Tucson and closed the trail, the department said. The Arizona Game & Fish Department said in a statement Wednesday the lions were killed overnight.

The mountain lions are not suspected of killing the victim, Game & Fish officials said. Authorities are trying to determine what happened on the trail.

“Mountain lions are not routinely scavengers. A mountain lion eating human remains is abnormal behavior. Those that do are more likely to attack a human being in the future,” Game & Fish Department Regional Supervisor Raul Vega said in a statement provided to CNN affiliate KGUN.

Vega added, “In addition, they did so 50 yards from a popular hiking trail and within sight of homes, and repeatedly showed no fear of responding officers.”

He said the mountain lions “were a clear and present danger to public safety.”

The mountain lions are being preserved as possible evidence in the death investigation, officials said.

An autopsy for the victim is scheduled on Wednesday.

crs · Jan 2, 2020

Could be no more than three hungry young litter mates.

As I understand Cougars, when they reach a certain age, they are encouraged to go find and establish their own territory.

It will be interesting to learn more about the human remains; who, when,careless hiker, kidnap victim, etc.

JimP · Jan 2, 2020

The bad thing here is that I doubt that you will hear any more about this.

The papers like the sensationalism of the headlines to get people to read the article and very seldom report back on it.

Brent in Az · Jan 2, 2020

That's about 5 miles north of were I live. There have been Mt. Lion issues in the foothills for years. The Lions are very good at killing the Desert Bighorn sheep released into that part of the Catalina Mountain range as well.

TMac · Jan 2, 2020

Color me a skeptic. If Cougars do not routinely scavenge, so says the article, Occam’s Razor suggests they likely killed the prey item, a human in this case. Regardless, a sad situation all the way around.

Fred Gunner · Jan 2, 2020

JimP said:
very seldom report back on it.

Steven Rinella “MeatEater” Has done excellent follow-up articles on reports of Cougar and Bear Human predation…I’ll be looking to him for the “Rest of the Story.”

Fred Gunner · Jan 2, 2020

TMac said:
If Cougars do not routinely scavenge, so says the article,

I'm researching this issue and from what I can find the opinion of “Mountain lions are not routinely scavengers." Is far from a settled issue? I look to the term "routinely" as the operative here.
Three Lions = Mother and two kittens...A litter of three almost always looses the runt of the litter.

Cougars are ambush predators and are quite happy to hang out in a tree and just jump on something that passes beneath them. Cougars as open to scavenging, which isn't terribly surprising considering their behavior with meat they do kill themselves. With a large kill, a cougar will typically cache it and return to it over time.

There was a woman killed by a cougar and the way the rangers caught the cougar that did it was to wait by where the cougar had cached the woman's body for the cougar to return to it. If a cougar is ok with essentially scavenging its own kills some time down the line, it doesn't seem too far of a stretch for it to be opportunistic in other areas?

crs · Jan 2, 2020

If you will allow me an aside:
It seems that states that protect Cougar have more issues with them.

In Texas, cougars are considered varmints, much like coyotes, and are shot on sight when seen, much like coyotes.

Just an observation.

Fred Gunner · Jan 2, 2020

crs said:
In Texas, cougars are considered varmints

My wife and I are going on a Cougar hunt in West Texas in 3 months and our Guide is using predator calls..
Thus my keen interest in the subject.

Ridgewalker · Jan 2, 2020

Fred Gunner said:
My wife and I are going on a Cougar hunt in West Texas in 3 months and our Guide is using predator calls..
Thus my keen interest in the subject.

I am excited for you! I would love to call one in!
Please write a report whether successful or not. It would be quite interesting to read if I have been doing something wrong. Maybe find out what call he uses? Thanks!

Bullthrower338 · Jan 2, 2020

crs said:
If you will allow me an aside:
It seems that states that protect Cougar have more issues with them.

In Texas, cougars are considered varmints, much like coyotes, and are shot on sight when seen, much like coyotes.

Just an observation.

They are a big game animal in AZ but the season is year round

Ridgewalker · Jan 2, 2020

In Colorado they are big game, but limited season. You have to pass an online test (New Mexico has the same). You also have to call before going out to hunt to see if the quota has been met (rarely).

johnnyblues · Jan 2, 2020

Good luck Fred

BRICKBURN · Jan 2, 2020

TMac said:
Color me a skeptic. If Cougars do not routinely scavenge, so says the article, Occam’s Razor suggests they likely killed the prey item, a human in this case. Regardless, a sad situation all the way around.

Young cats will scavenge anything they can. I'll be shocked if it is a Cougar kill.

Good luck on your hunt Fred. Remember, no baiting!

Brent in Az · Jan 2, 2020

That trail is very popular with casual hikers, including retirees. I'm wondering how the person died, and if the autopsy will determine antlything, considering the condition in which it was found?

TMac · Jan 2, 2020

Brent in Az said:
That trail is very popular with casual hikers, including retirees. I'm wondering how the person died, and if the autopsy will determine antlything, considering the condition in which it was found?

We had a dead hiker in OR found with a Cougar on/near the kill recently. They ended up calling it a Cougar caused fatality after a bit. Not sure how they did that.

Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS · Jan 3, 2020

"predators that dont routinely scavenge" is rubbish
anywhere in the world, any predator that finds an easy meal, will scavenge!!! weve all heard and seen it a million times

flatwater bill · Jan 3, 2020

It would be nice to see a follow up on this.....although it may fail to give any answers.....I'm thinking young, stupid cats in the wrong place at the wrong time......FWB

Ridge Runner · Jan 3, 2020

Ridgewalker said:
I am excited for you! I would love to call one in!
Please write a report whether successful or not. It would be quite interesting to read if I have been doing something wrong. Maybe find out what call he uses? Thanks!

+1

3 mountain lions found devouring human remains

Fred Gunner

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