Nebraskaland Magazine
LINCOLN, Neb. – A mountain lion was shot and killed in the Pine Ridge in northern Sheridan County on Feb. 8 after the landowner’s attempts to scare off the cat failed, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
The owner’s children had noticed a partially eaten white-tailed deer lying in the grass near some outbuildings on the property. A short time later, the owner saw from his house a mountain lion on the deer kill. Attempts by the family to scare the cat away resulted in the mountain lion advancing 40-50 yards toward the house. The landowner then shot the cat with a rifle from about 100 yards after attempting to contact officials.
The late-afternoon incident took place approximately 5 miles south of Whiteclay. The female mountain lion was estimated to be 2 years of age and weighed 88 pounds. There was no evidence that the lion had any young.
Mountain lions are protected year-round in Nebraska but may be killed if threatening people or attacking livestock. Officials investigated the incident a short time later and determined the physical evidence was consistent with the landowner’s account, and no charges are being pursued at this time.
“Game and Parks is interested in documenting observations or game camera photographs of mountain lions,” said Sam Wilson, Game and Parks furbearer and carnivore program manager. “Please report any observations to your nearest Game and Parks office or call 402-471-0641.”
