Cougar Killed on Albuquerque's Westside

More animals expected

Updated: Wednesday, 15 Jun 2011, 9:34 AM MDT
Published : Tuesday, 14 Jun 2011, 9:13 PM MDT

Albuquerque, N.M. (KRQE) - A male yearling cougar was killed by a car on Albuquerque's West Side Tuesday, just hours after being spotted in a neighborhood near Montaño and Unser.

New Mexico Game and Fish Department spokesperson Ross Morgan says there were two sightings of the mountain lion Monday night, one by a landscaping crew, the other by a woman who saw it in her backyard drinking from her pond.

Crews chased the animal in an attempt to tranquilize it but were unsuccessful before it ran back onto the mesa. Tuesday morning it was found dead alongside the road.

Morgan says the condition of the animal was concerning.

"This yearling was in really bad shape; it was 25 or 30 pounds," he said.  "It could hardly jump the fence when we were chasing it. It was emaciated and not doing well at all."

Morgan says this animal should have been about 50 pounds and still with its mother. He says it's likely the mother died or set the animal loose to fend for itself in these dry conditions.

It's unusual for mountain lions to be spotted in Albuquerque, but Morgan says it will likely happen more often because of the drought. He says smaller animals like rabbits will be drawn to the grassy yards and the predators will follow.

He says small pets are also in danger because predators like mountain lions and bobcats see them as easy prey.

Morgan says more bears will likely frequent populated areas as well, but that they are scavengers so they don't present as big a threat to animals or people.