Wildlife Officials Kill Lion Believed Responsible for Harper's Lake Encounter

Last week I posted a story about mountain lion that approached a four-year-old child at Harpers Lake Campground in the Blackfoot Valley. In a press release dated yesterday, state wildlife officials stated they believe they have killed that lion.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) personnel have been on-site pursuing this unusually aggressive lion in the lower Clearwater watershed for more than a week and were able to track and kill the lion on the late evening of Aug. 1.

FWP Biologist, Jay Kolbe and wildlife conflict specialist, Bob Wiesner, dispatched the lion around 11 p.m. after responding to a report of a lion attack on a dog near a home on River Watch Trail, several miles north of Harpers Lake.

“We are relieved to have this lion out of the area,” said Kolbe. “Its approach on that child last week was a signal that this lion might continue approaching people, and it had not responded to multiple attempts to frighten it away.”

Kolbe said that the lion killed matches the witness' descriptions and photos of the Harper’s lion. The lion was a 117-pound young adult male with little fat and an empty stomach, according to Kolbe. FWP will transport the carcass to the FWP Wildlife Lab in Bozeman for further examination.

Kolbe suspects that it is a different set of lions that have been sighted recently at Salmon Lake Campground, and reminds those spending time at Salmon Lake, or anywhere outdoors in western Montana, to review lion safety tips.

Some key tips include keeping small children and pets nearby. In the case of an encounter, immediately pick up small children and don’t run from or approach the lion. Give the lion room to leave the area, remain standing and face the lion, talk in a calm voice, and enlarge your image as much as possible. If a lion attacks, fight back.

For more information on recreating in mountain lion country, and what to do if you encounter one, please click here.


Jeff
Glacier National Park Trails

Mountain Lion Encounter Reported at Harper's Lake

Harpers Lake Fishing Access Site in the Blackfoot Valley was the scene of an encounter between campers and a mountain lion this past Monday night. The site remains open, but a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife specialist is camped on site to respond to additional sightings and kill the lion if possible.

FWP biologist, Jay Kolbe, responded to the initial report of Monday’s lion encounter at 9:15 p.m. and arrived on site shortly after. Kolbe said the call came from the mother of five children that were camping on the north end of the Harper’s campground.

The mother reported that the lion was seen crouched and watching her four-year-old child from a distance of about 20 feet. The child and nearby adults and children yelled at the lion, and although it did not approach closer, it remained nearby, even after repeated attempts to scare it off-site.

Kolbe was joined on site Monday evening by FWP wildlife conflict specialist, Bob Wiesner, with lion dogs, but the dogs were not able to follow the lion’s scent. FWP continues to attempt to capture and kill the lion, due to its unusual and aggressive behavior.

“Normally a lion that crosses paths with someone will leave the area after an initial attempt to frighten it away, but its behavior in this case is extremely unusual and merits extra precautions,” said Mike Thompson, FWP regional wildlife manager.

Thompson said that Wiesner will camp at the Harpers Lake site through the weekend to discuss the situation with campers and to provide an immediate onsite response, day or night, if needed.

FWP has also received other recent reports of lion sightings in the area, and reminds all campers, anglers, hikers and others that western Montana is mountain lion country, and now is a good time to review what to do if you cross paths with a lion.

General tips for an encounter with a lion call for not running from or approaching the lion. Give the lion room to leave the area, and immediately pick up small children. Face the lion, talk in a calm voice, enlarge your image as much as possible and remain standing. If a lion attacks, fight back.

For more information on recreating in mountain lion country, and what to do if you encounter one, please click here.


Jeff
Glacier National Park Hiking