BY KAREN BOSSICK

A juvenile mountain lion was euthanized Tuesday after it apparently killed a domestic goat and cached it near a residence south of Bellevue.

The owners of the residence raise livestock on the property, and the goat was found cached in one of the outbuildings.

Fish and Game officers from the Magic Valley Region were contacted about the incident on Monday, June 12. They decided to set a trap for the lion that same evening since it had preyed on livestock near a residential area where there had been several mountain lion sightings and at least one encounter with a resident over the past several months.

The next morning Fish and Game officers found a juvenile male mountain lion estimated to be about 18 months old in the trap. They then euthanized it.

“We’ve been learning from other states and Canadian provinces that juvenile or sub-adult mountain lions are more commonly involved in human-wildlife conflicts.” said Regional Wildlife Manager Mike McDonald. “Based on anecdotal information we’ve gained from the number of reports and sightings throughout the Wood River Valley we suspect we have a healthy population of juvenile lions throughout the area.”

The Magic Valley Region has recorded nearly 60 reports of lions, primarily in Hailey and Bellevue, since Jan. 1, 2023, said Terry Thompson, communications manager for the Magic Valley Region.

This is the fourth mountain lion that has been euthanized in the Wood River Valley this year. One was caught in a hen house in Woodside and euthanized after officials tried in vain to find a zoo that would take it.

A mother lion and her cub were trapped and euthanized after they hissed and displayed other signs of aggression to Hailey residents.

Magic Valley Regional Supervisor Craig White said that Fish and Game staff never make the decision to euthanize a wildlife lightly but that sometimes it’s the most humane and responsible option.

“As wildlife biologists, we dedicate our careers to managing healthy and robust wildlife populations, and the last thing we want to do is euthanize an animal,” he added. 

If you encounter a lion:

• NEVER run away from a mountain lion. The lion’s instinct is to chase and ultimately catch what they perceive as a potential prey.
• NEVER turn your back on a lion. Always face them while making yourself look as large as you can. Yell, but don’t scream. A high-pitched scream may mimic the sound of a wounded animal.
• SLOWLY back away while maintaining eye contact with the lion.
• CONSIDER carrying bear spray, a noise device like an air horn and, if you walk in the dark, a very bright flashlight.
• If you are attacked, FIGHT BACK!
• CALL 911 if the lion shows aggression or a person is attacked. Report all encounters, including pet and livestock attacks, to the Magic Valley Regional Office at 208-324-4359.