Another mountain lion killed for preying on bighorn in Catalinas

Another bighorn sheep has been killed by a mountain lion in the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson — and the mountain lion deemed responsible has been killed by a hunter subcontracted with by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The May 2 killing of the lion brings the total number of lions slain for preying on Catalina bighorns to seven, including four this year.

An opponent of the lion killings said that “beautiful predatory animals are being killed just because they are following their natural instincts.”

The most recent lion killing was a response to the April 28 death of a bighorn ewe, said Mark Hart, spokesman for the Game and Fish Department.

“The number of GPS-collared sheep known to be alive is now 37,” Hart said. “The total population is now estimated at 82” in the Catalinas, where an effort is underway to rebuild a bighorn herd that disappeared from the range in the 1990s.

The total population estimate includes animals released without GPS tracking collars, those whose collars have dropped off, and those born in the Catalina Mountains.

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LION KILLING DECRIED

Dozens of readers have contacted the Arizona Daily Star — as well as wildlife officials and elected representatives — to voice opposition to the killings of mountain lions.

“I’m shocked that this is being allowed to happen just because someone wanted to artificially play Mother Nature.” said Tucsonan Michael Hawkins. “Beautiful predatory animals are being killed just because they are following their natural instincts — unforgivable!

“I have contacted (U.S. Rep) Martha McSally and the Arizona Game and Fish Department about this,” Hawkins said. Tucson animal advocate Nina Lerner said, “The lions have to eat. Why kill them? It makes no sense what they’re doing. It’s murder the way I see it.”

Hart, of Game and Fish, said he tells opponents of the lion killings that “the predator management plan was designed to be a temporary means to ensure survival of the bighorn herd.”

As remaining GPS collars lose power and fall off bighorns, it will no longer be possible to learn immediately about bighorn deaths and initiate a search for the responsible mountain lions, Hart said.