Mountain lion removed from Valentine city limits for public safety

On Sept. 21, 2023, Nebraska Game and Parks, along with the Valentine Police Department, responded to remove a subadult mountain lion within the city limits.

In accordance with Nebraska’s Mountain Lion Response Plan, if the situation permits, any mountain lion found within a municipality will be killed to ensure public safety.

Relocating mountain lions is not a viable option due to several reasons:

• The safety of the public is always prioritized.
• Nebraska lacks sufficient public land with suitable habitat for relocation, as the vast majority of the state is privately owned. This means that any relocated mountain lion could quickly venture onto private property.
• Adult and subadult mountain lions accustomed to the wild are generally not accepted by zoos, as they do not adapt well to captivity and the presence of humans.
• Tranquilizers can take up to 10 minutes to take effect, and darted animals may flee while partially drugged. They could become difficult or impossible to relocate and may potentially wander into traffic or densely populated areas.

Nebraska Game and Parks reminds the public that mountain lion attacks are extremely rare. Nebraska’s Mountain Lion Response Plan and additional information about these majestic creatures in the state can be found here.