Mountain Lion Killed South of Tucson

The Arizona Game & Fish Department (AZGF) killed a female mountain lion in the Coronado National Forest (CNF) near Madera Canyon, south of Tucson, on October 26. The day before the lion reportedly aggressively stalked a hiker and his dog. The Animal Defense League of Arizona is in contact with AZGF and has attempted to reach the CNF. We will continue to follow-up, and update you on new information.

Here's what we know. The lion was a female of normal weight and health. She was not rabid. She had scars on her neck. The University of Arizona Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory has conducted a necropsy. AZGF applied its Protocol aka AZGFD Action Plan for Minimizing and Responding to Lion/Human Interactions. That was officially adopted in 2005, after the bungling of some poorly documented lion sightings in Sabino Canyon by CNF and AZGF.

AZGF has learned a lot from its mistakes. First, it held extensive public meetings in 2004 after Tucson expressed outrage at the agencies' actions and statements. Second, it developed a reasonable (although certainly not perfect) policy in the Protocol. Third, it has actually followed the Protocol. The bonus is that Gerry Perry the former head of the Tucson regional office retired. His replacement is Leonard Ordway, a long time AZGF employee. Ordway is certainly an "old school" wildlife manager in many ways. However, he has integrity and is responsive. Moreover, he is a biologist and will listen to suggestions made with data to back them up. Tucsonans should take the opportunity to get to know Ordway, and give him the benefit of the doubt.

On the other hand, the CNF is a complete disappointment. Its spokesperson continues to spread the myth that lions have a "natural fear" of people. They don't. Let me set the record straight. There is no scientific evidence that mountain lions have a natural fear of people. To the contrary, a study by Linda Sweanor indicated that mountain lions have no natural fear of people. It's very sad that a lay volunteer with an animal protection group knows more about the natural history of lions than the agency that manages the land where lions live, but that's the state of affairs in Arizona- at least at the CNF.