HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Wildlife officials have killed a mountain lion that had taken up residence in a Helena neighborhood and killed three housecats.

The Independent Record reports that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials killed the adult female mountain lion Friday.

Residents Gordon and Donna Klein reported spotting the lion lying in their planter outside the front window of their home on North Montana Avenue.

Warden Dave Loewen says mountain lions normally leave an area quickly if they spot humans.

He says he decided to kill the lion rather than tranquilizing it because that could take up to 15 minutes, posing a danger to people in the area.

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Information from: Independent Record, www.helenair.com