Mountain Lion Sightings Reported in Missouri Despite Said Extinction

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JEFFERSON CITY, MO - The mountain lion, also known as Puma concolor, is a large and powerful cat once native to Missouri.

These slender, muscular felines can grow up to 8.5 feet in length, including their long, cylindrical tails, and weigh between 64 to 265 pounds, depending on gender.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, they are distinguished by their small, rounded ears, lack of tufting, and uniform coloration ranging from grizzled gray and cinnamon tawny to dark brown. Their underparts are typically dull whitish, and the last few inches of their tails are black.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, while officially extirpated from Missouri due to the lack of evidence of a breeding population, mountain lions are occasionally spotted across the state.

Confirmed sightings have been reported in various counties, including Lewis, Madison, Warren, Wayne, and even St. Louis.

However, many reports turn out to be cases of mistaken identity, often confusing mountain lions with smaller bobcats, which have short tails and are streaked with black.

To confirm a mountain lion’s presence, physical evidence such as photos, tracks, hair, scat, and videos are used. Despite these confirmed sightings, the lack of a breeding population suggests that these sightings are likely transient individuals rather than a resident population, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Nonetheless, the occasional appearance of this elusive predator continues to captivate and intrigue both residents and wildlife enthusiasts in Missouri.