Mountain Lion

Neighbors believe they saw a mountain lion hopping a fence in Vista, California. Now, an 80-pound pit/lab mix is missing.

An Idaho hunter shot a mountain lion with an extra set of fangs growing from its skull.

Across much of North America, mountain lions are the apex predator. For many hunters, they are an ultimate trophy.

An 8-year-old Yorkshire Terrier was carried away from its owner's porch in Oregon by an animal believed to be a young cougar.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Colorado is backing off a proposal to increase mountain lion hunting in hopes of boosting the mule deer population in southern Colorado. The state Division of Parks and Wildlife announced Friday that it was dropping the request, which wildlife commissioners had been scheduled to consider at their meeting next month. It says it will be resubmitted next year. The Gazette reports that the change follows criticism from conservation and wildlife groups who say that shrinking habitats, not predators, are to blame for the decline in deer. The proposal was aimed at doubling the population of mule deer living between Salida and Westcliffe. Officials had planned to spend $820,000 to study the effects of increasing the number of mountain lions that could be hunted in four areas from 24 to 35. ___ Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazette.com

Nebraska officials have determined there will be no Nebraska mountain lion hunting season next year.

In April, a commission increased the cougar harvest rate in 14 areas of the state as a way to ease tensions in communities over the state's growing wolf population. Gray wolves are endangered in Washington and cannot be hunted.

More cougars are prowling around Oregon, prompting state officials to raise its kill quota for the animals for the first time since 2006.

New Hampshire has taken a step closer to restoring hunting and trapping seasons for bobcats and preservation groups are protesting.

Investigators say people in the area reported hearing what sounded like a mountain lion, and the dog's wounds were consistent with a mountain lion attack.

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has rejected a proposal to allow nonresidents to join this season's Black Hills mountain lion hunt and lowered limits on the number of animals allowed to be killed.

An elusive mountain lion took up a very public perch atop a 35-foot utility pole in the California desert.

If verified by biologists from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, it would be the 13th verified mountain lion in Kansas since 2007. Before that, mountain lions had not been documented in the state for more than 100 years.

The deaths of three llamas that were attacked by a rare pack of juvenile mountain lions have state wildlife officials warning residents in western Colorado to take precautions.

Aside from damage to fences or flattened gardens, deer often become aggressive, particularly during the rut. And where prey roam, predators are bound to follow.

Utah wildlife managers are allowing more hunters to pursue cougars despite pleas from conservationists and animal lovers.

Police are warning residents to keep a close eye on pets after a mountain lion snatched a pet poodle from the backyard of a Burbank hillside home.