Tribes rescue cougar
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By Linda Sappington
POLSON — A mountain lion was removed from atop a power pole this morning along Kerr Dam Road in Polson.
The female yearling was located near Overlook Drive by a resident.
Because of the danger of the power lines, CSKT wildlife biologists couldn’t gently bring the animal down in the usual manner by roping a foot. Instead, the cougar was tranquilized by wildlife biologist Shannon Clairmont, according to CSKT biologist Stacey Courville, and then the big cat fell to the ground.
The mountain lion was ear-tagged, and will be observed overnight to see if the fall injured her.
“If she is good and healthy, we’ll turn her loose tomorrow,” Courville said.
Courville noted it’s pretty typical for a yearling to be turned loose from mom, and then search around for a place “to set up shop,” he said. “I’m sure she is hunting deer. There’s lots of mule deer in the area, and she probably came off the river.”
Polson City Police, CSKT Tribal Police, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies and Mission Valley Power also responded to the scene on the well-traveled road.
CSKT spokesperson Rob McDonald said it was interesting to hear the comments of drivers as they passed by. Some rolled down their windows and shouted, “I love Montana!”
