Young Mountain Lion Found In Casper And Safely Removed

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has announced that earlier this week, a mountain lion was spotted in the Paradise Valley area of Casper. The 2-year-old male lion was safely removed from the area and relocated to a new, more suitable location.

The Casper area has many natural travel corridors and offers prime opportunities for encounters like this, and the lion likely followed one of them into town.

Once the cat was spotted, Game and Fish, the Natrona County Sheriff's Office, and the Casper Police Department worked together to locate it and address the situation.

Living in an area like Casper, a visit from a mountain lion or black bear isn't anything new, but with more and more cameras in the community, with doorbell and other security camera systems, they seem to be reported more often. Thankfully, in this situation, the public quickly reported the animal, which allowed for a peaceful and easy resolution.

If you spot a mountain lion in town, or in an area where it could cause an issue, depending on the situation, contact the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's tip line at 1-877-WGFD-Tip (877-943-3847) or the non-emergency line for the local police department.

Knowing we are in mountain lion country, encounters can happen, but remember safety first.

• Reduce the risk of an encounter by recreating in groups. The more people, the more noise, the less likely a big cat will be spooked.
• Stay away from mountain lions. They're not big, cute, cuddly cats; they're unpredictable wild animals.
• Try not to get worked up and overly anxious. Talk loudly but in a calm, firm manner and slowly move away. Running or moving suddenly may trigger the cat to attack.
• Keep an eye on kids and pets playing outside.
• Never feed the wildlife. Feeding wildlife is frowned upon by WGFD, and inside the city limits of Casper, it's illegal. Feeding the animals can, and will eventually, cause major issues and likely end up in the animals' deaths.
• Keep the area around your house well lit.
• Always be aware of your surroundings. If you see an animal that's in an area that may be problematic, report it immediately.