Mountain Lion Shot South of Missoula

State wildlife officials have shot and killed a mountain lion that was wandering around a residential area south of Missoula.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials believe it could be the same one spotted several times this fall.

FWP Regional Wildlife Manager Mike Thompson says the lion was behaving unnaturally and posed a risk to people.

Mountain lion specialist Bob Wiesner says the lion shot on Saturday was an approximately 18-month-old male weighing about 110 pounds. Wiesner says a homeowner called Saturday morning to report the lion had killed a mule deer fawn in a residential area.

Game wardens had killed three mountain lions in the same area in September.

Wildlife officials say mountain lions can rarely be successfully trapped and relocated because they quickly return to their home territory.