3 Juvenile Mountain Lions Found Under Idaho Deck Euthanized for Public Safety

3 juvenile mountain lions were discovered in an Idaho house underneath a deck. The young mountain lions are adorable, but according to authorities, the feline cubs must be euthanized to protect the public.

The three young mountain lions were euthanized by Idaho Fish and Game officers after they were discovered under a deck on a home in Kendrick, located in north central Idaho, on Saturday.

The animals were captured and put to death by the officers, according to an IDFG statement released on Monday.

How Dangerous are 3 Juvenile Mountain Lions?

JJ Teare, the supervisor for IDFG Clearwater Region, said in a news release that Because habituated lions in urban areas pose a threat to public safety, they chose to put them to death. Mountain lions that settle down in populated areas, according to Teare, also present a challenge and a great risk for those who might be asked to find and relocate them.

According to IDFG, mountain lions are frequently driven out of wild areas by dominant, usually more mature lions, which is one reason they may stray into towns and neighborhoods.

Because mountain lions are territorial and numerous in the area around Kendrick and throughout the state of Idaho, a mountain lion that wanders into populated areas and is then released back into the wild is not likely to fare well in the territory of another lion, according to IDFG. Additionally, there is a chance that a mountain lion will re-enter human-populated areas and harm or devour livestock and pets.

Animal Behavior

The large cat species known as the mountain lion also referred to as the cougar, panther, puma, or catamount, is indigenous to the Americas.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, mountain lions are cunning hunters who prefer to hunt at night. They frequently lie in wait for prey or stalk it silently before pouncing from behind and biting the prey's spinal cord to death. They typically prey on deer, but when necessary, they will also eat other smaller animals and even insects. Mountain lions are carnivores, just like all cats, and they hardly ever eat plants.

The mountain lions that were discovered over the weekend in Kendrick were "young of the year," and they were searching "everywhere they could find it" for food and shelter. According to Jennifer Bruns, regional communications manager, they were around four to six months old.

According to IDFG, the department only uses "lethal removal" (including euthanasia) if an animal has turned hostile while residing among people and is deemed to be a danger to the public.

Mountain Lion Sightings and Encounters

Mountain lion sightings and encounters happen all year long, but reports tend to spike in the winter because freshly fallen snow makes tracks more obvious, and more deer and elk are moving over to their winter ranges, which are, most of the time, near towns and neighborhoods.

To keep mountain lions away from homes, IDFG advises homeowners to check the area around their buildings, block any openings under decks, and lock all barn and backyard shed doors.

Authorities encourage residents to notify local law enforcement or a regional IDFG office of a mountain lion sighting on their property, KTVB7 reports.

IDFG also compiled a set of guidelines and safety tips for mountain lion encounters on its website.