Two Allendale residents, Kevin Warner and J.W. Harding spotted what they believed to be a mountain lion a few miles west of Allendale, west of the East Fork near the Bluestem Seed pasture. They said that it was too large to be a bobcat or a fox and that its color ruled out a deer. The Missouri Department of Conservation says that bobcats, deer, house cats, and foxes are frequently mistaken for mountain lions.
According to the Department of Conservation, mountain lions are reclusive by nature. Missouri does not have an established breeding population; however, Nebraska does. The Black Hills in South Dakota are a frequent source of mountain lions. While female lions do not range very far, males can range for hundreds of miles searching for mates or suitable habitat. There have been 51 confirmed sightings in Missouri by the Department of Conservation since 1994; of those, the closest to this area include two in Grundy County and one in DeKalb County.
To report a mountain lion to the Missouri Department of Conservation, contact:
Jeff Beringer, Resource Scientist
3500 East Gans Road
Columbia, MO 65201
573-815-7901, ext. 3623
Alan Leary, Wildlife Management Coordinator
2901 W Truman Blvd
PO Box 180
Jefferson City, MO 65109
573-522-4115, ext. 3693
Mail photos, video or physical evidence to any of the MLRT leaders above.
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