A female mountain lion was shot and killed late Monday by a landowner near Howard, in Miner County, Ron Schauer, Regional Game Manager for SD Game, Fish and Parks, said.
Farm dogs had the lion cornered under a grainery, Schauer said. The cat was in a defensive mode and had slightly injured one of the landowner’s dogs. Game, Fish and Parks Conservation Officer Jeremy Roe investigated the situation and concluded the shooting was justified, due to the protection of the landowner’s property and livestock.
The female lion weighed approximately 70 lbs and was 6 feet long from nose to tail. Officials estimate the lion was under two years of age.
The lion’s body will be taken to South Dakota State University for necropsy. They will check its general condition, stomach contents, check for diseases and parasites and try to determine from where the cat came.