ND euthanizes trapped cub
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 12:58 pm
from the Bismarck Tribune. 40-50lb. female with damaged foot from foothold trap in cold weather
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles ... 268758.txt
Mountain lion caught in western North Dakota
Feb 25, 2008 - 16:34:32 CST
By RICHARD HINTON
Bismarck Tribune
A young mountain lion caught in a foothold trap north of Killdeer was euthanized after wildlife managers determined it would be unlikely to survive after being released.
A trapper found the 5- to 6-month-old, 45-pound female on Feb. 13 and reported it to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department that day, assistant wildlife chief Greg Link said Monday. The trapper, Mike Filkowski, also reported that he had checked his trap a day earlier and found it empty.
"We felt we had a good situation to salvage this cat and collar it," Link said Monday.
NDGFD personnel met Filkowski, who took them to the scene, that night. They tranquilized the cat and got its foot out of the trap.
"Because of the cold and extreme temperatures, the foot was frozen, and they were concerned it would lose the foot," Link said.
An adult mountain lion could adapt and deal with losing a foot, Link said, but not a lion that young.
"A young lion has its work cut out for it already. Young lions have a lot to learn. They have a big job ahead of them. There was no way we were going to prolong that cat's situation by releasing it. We had it dispatched," Link said.
The mountain lion is the fourth to be caught in a trap and reported to NDGFD this winter in western North Dakota. Three other lions were caught in December: a 102-pound, 4- to 5-year-old female and what was believed to be its 78-pound, 1- to 2-year-old offspring on the same day; and a 2 1/2-year-old male that weighed 150 pounds. All three were found dead in the traps.
NDGFD furbearer biologist Dorothy Fecske, NDGFD wildlife veterinarian Erika Butler, NDGFD wildlife technician Sarah Neigum and NDGFD GIS specialist Colin Penner made the trip from Bismarck in about four hours because of "ugly roads," Link said. Mike Oehler, a wildlife biologist with the National Park Service, joined them at the site about 20 miles north of Killdeer.
"We wanted to be prepared," Link said, referring to the size of the contingent that went to the site. "Once it's sedated, and it's that cold out, we didn't know if we would have to haul it out of there to keep it warm."
(Reach outdoor writer Richard Hinton at 250-8256 or richard.hinton@bismarcktribune.com.)
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles ... 268758.txt
Mountain lion caught in western North Dakota
Feb 25, 2008 - 16:34:32 CST
By RICHARD HINTON
Bismarck Tribune
A young mountain lion caught in a foothold trap north of Killdeer was euthanized after wildlife managers determined it would be unlikely to survive after being released.
A trapper found the 5- to 6-month-old, 45-pound female on Feb. 13 and reported it to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department that day, assistant wildlife chief Greg Link said Monday. The trapper, Mike Filkowski, also reported that he had checked his trap a day earlier and found it empty.
"We felt we had a good situation to salvage this cat and collar it," Link said Monday.
NDGFD personnel met Filkowski, who took them to the scene, that night. They tranquilized the cat and got its foot out of the trap.
"Because of the cold and extreme temperatures, the foot was frozen, and they were concerned it would lose the foot," Link said.
An adult mountain lion could adapt and deal with losing a foot, Link said, but not a lion that young.
"A young lion has its work cut out for it already. Young lions have a lot to learn. They have a big job ahead of them. There was no way we were going to prolong that cat's situation by releasing it. We had it dispatched," Link said.
The mountain lion is the fourth to be caught in a trap and reported to NDGFD this winter in western North Dakota. Three other lions were caught in December: a 102-pound, 4- to 5-year-old female and what was believed to be its 78-pound, 1- to 2-year-old offspring on the same day; and a 2 1/2-year-old male that weighed 150 pounds. All three were found dead in the traps.
NDGFD furbearer biologist Dorothy Fecske, NDGFD wildlife veterinarian Erika Butler, NDGFD wildlife technician Sarah Neigum and NDGFD GIS specialist Colin Penner made the trip from Bismarck in about four hours because of "ugly roads," Link said. Mike Oehler, a wildlife biologist with the National Park Service, joined them at the site about 20 miles north of Killdeer.
"We wanted to be prepared," Link said, referring to the size of the contingent that went to the site. "Once it's sedated, and it's that cold out, we didn't know if we would have to haul it out of there to keep it warm."
(Reach outdoor writer Richard Hinton at 250-8256 or richard.hinton@bismarcktribune.com.)