Officials Order 4 Mountain Lions Killed - Considered Alternatives?
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Mother, 3 offspring shot in El Dorado County. Wildlife advocates said Monday that state officials should have considered alternatives after learning they ordered a mother mountain lion and her three offspring to be shot and killed in El Dorado County.
The killings happened last month in the community of Rescue, which is located about three miles north of Shingle Springs.
The California Department of Fish and Game said it had received several complaints about the mountain lions and confirmed that at least one domestic goat had been killed by a mountain lion.
Jason Holley, a supervising wildlife biologist for the department, told KCRA 3 it was not clear if all four mountain lions had participated in the kill.
"That may or may not be true, about all four animals killing the animal that was confirmed dead. But what is very likely is that they all fed off of it, and they were all of huntable age, and they could all be killing animals in the area," said Holley.
Holley said the young mountain lions were about 18 months old -- an age at which he said they often leave the protection of their mother.
"Some of these cubs, or sub-adults, looked like they were 60 pounds," said Holley.
Holley said the department had received a complaint from the owner of a goat herd in the area. He declined to identify the owner.
Holley said the state contacted an agent for the United States Department of Agriculture who confirmed that one of the owner's goats had been killed by the mountain lions.
Holley said in such cases state law requires that a permit to kill the animals be issued...
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