GFP Retrieves Three Mountain Lion Kittens

PIERRE – A female mountain lion killed by a hunter on Thursday was determined to have young kittens prompting a search by the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department to find the young lions.

The female mountain lion was the 12^th taken as part of the 2007 hunting season, and the 11^th female lion taken.

“Our policy whenever we can determine that mountain lion kittens are still dependant on the care of a female lion taken by a hunter is to search for the young when we believe that they are not old enough to survive on their own,” Assistant Wildlife Division Director George Vandel said.

The female mountain lion taken on Thursday had been radio-collared as part of the ongoing research project in the Black Hills. In addition, all three of her kittens had been radio-collared. 

“In this case we knew what to expect and with the radio collaring we had no problem locating and retrieving the kittens,” Vandel said.  “We knew due to the radios that the one male and two female kittens were two and half months old and that the kittens would not be able to survive on their own”. 

GFP staff brought the kittens to the Custer airport where they were air transported to South Dakota State University in Brookings. A veterinarian will inspect the kittens and they will be held until a zoo or other certified facility is located to provide permanent care.

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