SOUTH DAKOTA GAME, FISH & PARKS - 2004 MOUNTAIN LION MORTALITY DATA

Number Date Died or Reported Sex Age Cause of Death Location Comments
 
36 1/25/2004 M 1-2 Incidental Snare Pactola Dam area; Across from Victoria Lake Road Legal Coyote Snare;  Lungs saturated with blood from struggling and choking with snare.  Obtained tissue and fecal sample
37 2/23/2004 M 1.5-2.5 Interaction / Euthanized by GFP 1 mile from Beilage GPA; behind residence on Maitland Rd GFP notified of a lion fight behind residence.  One male was seen in same area 5 days after initial fight.  Lion was treed, and because of obvious severe trauma was euthanized.  Further investigation showed 3 canine puncture wounds through the skull cavity.
38 4/3/2004 F? 8-10 months Unknown Beilage GPA  This mainly decomposed young lion was found near the archery range in the Beilage GPA.  Flesh was rotting and full of maggots, all organs were liquified.  Cause of death was unfortunately indeterminable, but by barring on hide appeared an older kitten.
39 4/28/2004 M 6 months Emaciation 4 miles E of Keystone of Hwy 40 on Nellie Road GFP was contacted that turkey hunters had seen much lion activity in the last 4 days.  GFP personnel found 2 kittens presumed abandoned and severly emaciated.  One was already dead, The live kitten was euthanized and both were at least 20 pounds under weight.  Both had empty stomachs and GI tracts.
40 4/28/2004 M 6 months Emaciation / Euthanized by GFP 4 miles E of Keystone of Hwy 40 on Nellie Road See desctiption above
41 4/21/2004 ? ? Vehicle?? 2 E of SD/WY border on Hwy 16 WY Game and Fish personnel calle GFP to inform of a cougar along Hwy 16, animal decomposed, skull collected
42 4/30/2004 M 2-3 Removal Near Hermosa GFP Removal after close encounter at a residence and confirmation of killing a housecat.  Necropsy showed good amount of cat hair and flesh in the stomach and GI tract.  111 pounds Noted many wood ticks in GI tract.
43 5/6/2004 ? 10-18 months Vehicle?? Just E of Keystone along Hwy 40 Fully decomposed cougar;appeared young; skull and pelvis taken to GFP
44 5/19/2004 F 3-4 Illegal shooting Near Thunderhead Falls GFP notified of a lion killing bighorn lamb behind residence. RP fired shotgun to "scare" away lion and ended up killing lion accidentally.  Wasn't lactating at the time of death.
45 6/8/2004 M 2-3 Removal City of Spearfish;behind Passion Play GFP Removal of a lion that was frequenting yards and entered a residence to kill housecats.  Removed at night and was emaciated with injury to left front forearm.  Stomach consisted of primarily cat fur, some deer, and rodents.
46 6/14/2004 M 2 Removal City of Yankton GFP removal of lion that was found wandering the streets of Yankton.  Substantial amounts of badger and mink in GI tract.
47 7/13/2004 M 7-9 Removal S of Hot Springs Joe Allen Ranch GFP removal of M12 (radiocollared lion);  Was eating domestic sheep.
48 7/21/2004 ? 10-20 months Vehicle?? Across from Grey Rocks, Custer Old Death, younger lion, skull recovered and taken to GFP
49 7/24/2004 M 7-9 months Removal Rimrock Court; Johnson Siding GFP Removal of a lion that was treed in a residential area.  Multiple sightings were reported in the 2 weeks previous, so lion was removed.
50 7/25/2004 F 1-2  Bovine Predation/ Removal Near Sugar Shack on Hwy 385 GFP Removal.  Bovine Predation-lion was seen limping in a pasture, and cattle cornered it and were trampling it.  Lion was previously injured and was thin, missing 2nd toe on left foot-was euthanized by GFP.
51 7/29/2004 F 1-2 Vehicle E 614723  N 4918281  Boulder Canyon W of Sturgis Hit by vehicle at 6:15 am and dispatched at scene by Sturgis Police officer
52 7/30/2004 M 1-2 Vehicle E 602199  N 4920966 Boulder Canyon M 32 was hit by a vehicle and was carrying a GPS collar at the time.  Just starting dispersal movement-93 pounds
53 8/7/2004 M 11-18 months Vehicle MM 47 I-90 Piedmont Another young male hit by vehicle, this time on the interstate.  Still had barring on legs, canines erupted.  Porcupine quills imbedded in intestinal wall.
54 8/13/2004 M 8-12 months Vehicle  E 619944 N 4918933  Hwy 34 NE corner of Sturgis This was M 36 whom we had lost track of for a few weeks.  Killed by a motorcycle during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally at 9:30 pm.  Lion was thin at time of radiocollaring, but necropsy showed that he was in good shape.
55 9/28/2004 F 2.5-3.5 Vehicle Across from Sheridan Lake Fishing Area Vehicle killed lion-beaten up badly, skull busted.  Missing middle toes on left front foot.  3 feti present(2male 1 female) nearly fully developed--claws, teeth, whiskers,obvious spotting.  Placed feti in formalin-SDSU.  Animal destroyed by vehicle.
56 ??? ? young Unknown   Carcass picked up after being carried into a yard by domestic dog
57 ??? M kitten Infanticide   M37-kitten of F 18 killed by another lion
58 12.12.2004 M 8 months Incidental Snare E 629077  N 4807777 Legal snare by Trapper near Maverick Junction;56 pound male lion
59 12/16/2004 F 2 Vehicle Near Hayward SD 78 pounds-Lion jumped off of guardrail into front of vehicle
60 12/22/2004 F 4-5 Incidental Snare NW of Hot Springs Legal snare by trapper. Argyle road NW of Hot Springs-Lactating female 97 pounds-older female.