Mountain Lion Reportedly Sighted Again in Iowa City

Police are on the hunt for a mountain lion that has apparently, maybe, might have wandered to -- of all places -- .

Local police received reports of an apparently curious cat that somehow navigated its way into this college town about two hours east of Des Moines in the Hawkeye State. It's the second time this month police have investigated such reports.

A police activity log said, "IN THE WOODED AREA BEHIND HY VEE THERE IS A COUGAR ON THE LOOSE HY VEE STAFF ALSO WITNESSED."

A uniformed officer with shotgun in hand and a second officer searched near a wooded bike trail behind the local grocery store and Memory Gardens Cemetery on the east side of Iowa City. The trail runs through several residential neighborhoods from to along Ralston Creek.

Sgt. Vicki Lalla said police dispatched officers at 4:12 p.m. to a report of a cougar, which is another name for a mountain lion, walking around in the woods near a bike trail on the 800 block of South First Avenue.

Officers scoured the area for the large and potentially dangerous feline, but couldn't find it. The animals are known to stalk deer and livestock as well as smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines and raccoons.

Lalla said the officers are "authorized to shoot" if they see the predator.

"The police's stance is that when we get a report like this, we take it seriously," Lalla said, adding that she hasn't seen it.

Not everyone is swallowing the mountain lion hubbub. Jennie Ott, whose children live and play in the area, said she's not.

"I am not buying it. There's a little bit of hysteria to it," Ott said. "It's likely just a bobcat. I could be wrong, but it doesn't seem to be anything to get too concerned about."

In the United States, these wildcats, which can also be called pumas or catamounts, are most common in the mountainous west, not the plains of Iowa. They haven't called Iowa home since the early 1900s.

Still, mountain lions have popped up in Iowa on rare occasions.

Earlier this month, police had of a mountain lion near in neighboring University Heights. They never found it, but it prompted a soft lock-down of the school.

And, 18 months ago, a Cedar Rapids man bagged a mountain lion that was perched in a tree while deer hunting south of Marengo. 

At the time, a specialist from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources told the Iowa City Press-Citizen that it was just the fourth positively identified mountain lion in Iowa in nine years.

Some mountain lions seem to have a nomadic calling, like the ones that stumble into Iowa or like this poor cat, which took a road trip across the country from the Black Hills of South Dakota to suburban Connecticut only to get hit and killed by an SUV.

A press release about the incident was issued tonight written by Misha Goodman, Iowa City director of animal services:

On Wednesday, September 12, 2011 at approximately 4:12 pm, Iowa City Police received a single report of a cougar walking in a small wooded area on the east side of the street in the 800 blk of S 1st Avenue near the bike path along Ralston Creek.

Animal Control and police officers responded and searched the area but did not locate the animal.

Area residents are advised to remain alert and call police immediately if they see a cougar. Following are some general safety tips:

1. Do not approach a cougar. Most cougars want to avoid humans so give the cougar time and space to steer clear of you.

2. Never run past or from a cougar as this may trigger their instinct to chase. Make eye contact and stand your ground.

3. Never bend over or crouch down, which causes a human to resemble a four legged animal.

4. Make yourself appear larger and more aggressive. Open your jacket, raise your arms and wave them slowly while speaking slowly, firmly and loudly.

Iowa City Police and Animal Control are continuing to patrol the area in response to the reported sighting.