Boise Idaho – Over the weekend a mountain lion was reported in Boise. There have been similar reports in Kuna in recent weeks. As Adam Cotterell reports cities can be attractive places for mountain lions
Steve Nadeau attributes most cougar sightings in Boise to the power of suggestion.
Steve Nadeau “Other people will all of a sudden think that what they’re seeing are cougars when in fact they might be housecats or something.”
Nadeau is Idaho Fish and Game’s southwest regional wildlife manager. Even though most sightings don’t pan out, he says mountain lions do come into Boise.
Steve Nadeau “When they’re up on the hillside they’ll look down into the valley, they’ll see deer, they’ll see the green lush vegetation. They’ll come down for a drink of water and they’ll start hunting deer that are in the valley or occasionally pick up some housecats.”
Nadeau says cougars come into cities more often than people think. They quietly pass through and rarely pose a threat. If Fish and Game determines that a cougar is dangerous they will tranquilize the animal and remove it. The sighting this weekend in Boise has not been confirmed.