(Undated)– Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says they’re aware of social media reports showing images of a mountain lion with a neck collar in northwest Iowa.
In a press release, the agency says the subadult male is believed to be less than two years old. They say the mountain lion was collared as part of ongoing research by Nebraska Game, Fish and Parks to better understand mountain lion movements, behaviors and dispersal.
Vince Evelsizer, state furbearer biologist with the Iowa DNR, says the cat made its way into northwest Iowa all the way from north central Nebraska. Evelsizer says he was contacted about the cat’s movements a few weeks ago when it entered Iowa and that so far, it hasn’t caused issues with human safety or livestock.
While mountain lions are not protected in Iowa, Evelsizer is encouraging Iowans not to shoot it unless there is a direct safety threat.
