5 days ago
A man killed a mountain lion in Buckeye and won't face any legal consequences. Here's why
A Buckeye man who killed a mountain lion that attacked him and his dog would not face legal consequences because he acted in self-defense, state wildlife officials said.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on May 25 in the Verrado community at the southeast corner of the White Tank Mountains. The man was walking his dog when the mountain lion attacked, and he was able to kick the animal off his dog. When the mountain lion attempted to approach him again, the man shot and killed it.
The incident followed an uptick of sightings in the area, which is a mountain lion habitat, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
"The shooting was in self-defense, so no citations were issued," Game and Fish spokesperson Michael Colaianni wrote in an email. "We typically say that if your life or the life of someone else is in danger, you have every right to defend yourself."
Mountain lions can be legally hunted with a tag from Game and Fish. A person who kills a mountain lion that is not threatening or who kills without a tag could face any of several violations, according to the department. Those could include unlawful taking of wildlife, taking out of season, or taking without a tag, which bring criminal penalties.
There had been "an uptick in sightings" in the area before the May 25 encounter, but it could have been the same mountain lion seen repeatedly, Colaianni said. No sightings have been reported to Game and Fish since.
The department says online that mountain lion habitat is shrinking as a result of urban sprawl, which can increase human and lion conflicts.
"We would like those living on the outskirts or up against wilderness areas to keep in mind that these types of interactions with wildlife are still extremely rare, but are indeed possible," Colaianni said.
If someone encounters a mountain lion, the department says humans should:
Not approach the lion, as most will try to avoid confrontation and try to escape.
Stay calm and speak loudly and firmly.
Do not run, which could stimulate a mountain lion's chase instinct.
Stand and face the animal while making eye contact.
Try to convince the mountain lion you are not easy prey, and might be dangerous. Make yourself appear larger by raising your arms or opening a jacket if you are wearing one. Throw stones or anything you can reach without turning around or crouching. Wave your arms slowly.
Maintain eye contact and slowly back away toward a building, vehicle or busy area.
If the lion attacks, fight back. The animal usually tries to bite the head or neck, so remain standing and face it. Game and Fish said people have fought off attacks using everything from their bare hands to mountain bikes.
The department said its annual average population estimate of mountain lions in Arizona was about 2,900 for the years between 2004 and 2020. But because the animals have a wide range and cryptic behavior, they are hard to count. So the department makes an estimate based on the age of the animals when they are hunted or killed.
Mountain lions are not considered endangered or threatened.
Any mountain lion attack should be reported to 911, according to Game and Fish.
Encounters, attacks, sightings or any property damage should also be reported to Arizona Game and Fish dispatch at 623-236-7201. The line is staffed 24/7 year-round.
Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at or 480-416-5669.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: A man killed a mountain lion in Buckeye. Is that legal?
