Unexpected dead Mt lion sighting

[Chuckybmd]

I’m not sure what happened.

Was out fishing in southern Idaho and glanced to see this critter resting on the rocks.

Looking at it up close it doesn’t seem like it was crushed. Just randomly laying there just above the water. Wondering if it drowned and then settled on the rocks.

 

[johnsd16]

Could it have fallen?

 

[OMF]

He's just resting. Seriously, if there are no roads nearby where he might have gotten hit by a car, I'd guess he fell too.

 

[Chuckybmd]

Could it have fallen?

Maybe? The slope above it looks very gradual, it would be nearly impassible to a human but I could picture a cat climbing out just fine. The pic is deceiving because the rock wall is only straight up and down at the base.

 

[Chuckybmd]

He's just resting. Seriously, if there are no roads nearby where he might have gotten hit by a car, I'd guess he fell too.

5 miles from the nearest road

 

[Luke S]

Any chance it was shot and you missed the bullet hole?

 

[mike.adams.467]

Maybe killed by another lion?

 

[Chuckybmd]

Any chance it was shot and you missed the bullet hole

Maybe, but The area it’s at is probably about a 15 minute boat ride from the nearest access. Its almost inaccessible by other means, if it was wounded and then found its way down there maybe, but it would have to cover a couple of miles before ending up on the rocks

 

[Chuckybmd]

Maybe killed by another lion?

Hadn’t thought of that but looking at its size he seemed like a late adolescent, probably a good target for a well established cat. A fight like that would make sense given the remote area. I would almost bet that over it getting shot.

 

[Will_m]

5 miles from the nearest road

I didn’t know there was anywhere in the lower 48 that was 5 miles from the road as the crow flies. That’s almost as cool as finding the cat.

 

[Muleyczy]

Pretty cool find whatever happened

 

[Mike 338]

I've once had the a similar experience. Just laying there like it's battery ran out.

 

[7mm-08]

Interesting (and puzzling) discovery, for sure. I'm think I'm in the "it fell" camp, but could it have starved? I know that young lions can have a tough go of it after leaving their moms.

 

[Chuckybmd]

Interesting (and puzzling) discovery, for sure. I'm think I'm in the "it fell" camp, but could it have starved? I know that young lions can have a tough go of it after leaving their moms.

Yeah, would be crazy to see a cat fall. They’ve always seemed very agile and surefooted. I guess it could happen. Makes it even more rare I guess.

 

[505Wapiti]

Is it pinned between those boulders?

 

[Chuckybmd]

I didn’t know there was anywhere in the lower 48 that was 5 miles from the road as the crow flies. That’s almost as cool as finding the cat.

I should add that I meant paved roads where it was likely to have gotten hit. There’s a couple of two tracks in the area, should’ve been more clear on that. Also it looks closer to 3 miles actually pulling up a map.

Interesting concept about roads though.

 

[Chuckybmd]

Is it pinned between those boulders?

The pictures can deceiving there, but it’s actually just laying on top of it. It is free unless it’s rear left foot was trapped. I couldn’t see it from the angle it was laying.

 

[505Wapiti]

Well, there goes the argument for Bigfoot believers…. People actually do find dead mountain lions and bears!

 

[Chuckybmd]

Well, there goes the argument for Bigfoot believers…. We actually do find dead mountain lions and bears!

Ha ha, that’s true!

Hilariously, I had a local politician claim that Bigfoot was real and showed me photos of tracks on the ground, that were supposed evidence.

 

[Beendare]

Lions chase critters through those cliffs….best guess is a fall

I’ve seen tree squirrels fall from the huge oaks at my house….and there are vids on youtube of lions and critters running and falling off of cliffs. It happens.