FWP Shot Mountain Lion, Frightened Campers

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — State wildlife officials have shot and killed a young, male mountain lion suspected of frightening several campers in the Clearwater Junction area.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife manager Mike Thompson tells KECI-TV that wardens shot the cat at about 10 p.m. Wednesday after it frightened an Oregon woman who was walking a dog outside a cabin about 40 miles northeast of Missoula.

Patrick Muri said he fired shots to frighten the cat up a tree at about 9:30 p.m. and Thompson says a warden shot the cat just about 30 minutes later.

Thompson says based on the cat's behavior, they believe it was the same one that stalked campers near Harpers Lake two weeks ago. The Missoulian reports the same cat also was suspected of wandering into Salmon Lake State Park on Monday night.