Mountain lion captured, euthanized in Kimball

(file photo)

A mountain lion was captured in a residential area on the east side of Kimball Saturday afternoon and then euthanized. Police Chief Mark Simpson says a homeowner notified Police around 2 p.m. of the mountain lion, which he said was in a tree near his house when he went outside. Simpson says Game and Parks was called and they tranquilized the animal with a dart while he was in the tree.
Simpson says they removed the young male from the tree and placed him in a bucket truck. Game and Parks Spokesman Sam Wilson said the animal was then euthanized under the agency's policy regarding mountain lions that intrude into a community.

Wilson says he was about 90 pounds and was likely trying to find a new territory after being dispersed from his original area because there was already a dominant male there. Wilson says the cats can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles trying to find their new area.

The home where the mountain lion was seen is located across Goutte Park, one of the main parks in Kimball.

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