There are no records of a confirmed fatal attack on a person by a wild mountain lion in Texas. Smaller populations of mountain lions still inhabit portions of the South Texas Plains. The largest breeding population of mountain lions in Texas occurs in the Trans Pecos region where there are large undeveloped tracts of land. Attacks on people are extremely rare with fewer than 30 confirmed fatal mountain lion attacks on people in North America in the last 100 years. Mountain lions are native to Texas and classified as a nongame species. When living in areas with possible mountain lion activity, TPWD recommends people do not allow children and small pets to play outside unsupervised. Mountain lions roam much of Texas and rarely create conflict with people. 16 Baylor At Home Could Knock Texas Out Of Big 12 Race If the lion is aggressive, throw rocks, sticks, or anything you can get your hands on.Face the lion and remain in an upright position.Pick up all children off the ground immediately.They offered the following advice should you ever come into contact with a mountain lion. Mountain lions are solitary animals except for a brief breeding. Sighting and kill reports indicate that Mountain Lions now occur in more counties than they did 10 years ago and appear to be expanding their range into central Texas. This mountain lion was recently spotted at Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso. This story was originally published by Thalia Brionez at KXXV.Texas Parks and Wildlife officials believe it’s possible it’s the same animal. In Texas, the Mountain Lion is found throughout the Trans-Pecos, as well as the brushlands of south Texas and portions of the Hill Country. Many people are unaware of the great diversity of our felines, their habitat. Our purpose is to expand education about the native cats of Texas, increase outreach throughout the state and, ultimately, to improve the lives of these very important but often misunderstood Texas felines. Whiteley’s body was sent to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. AUSTIN, Texas New genetic research adds to a body of evidence indicating mountain lion populations are generally healthy in parts of Texas, with significant populations in West and South Texas and harvest data pointing to stable or increasing numbers in the western part of the state over the past 90 years. Conservation and Action Through Education and Outreach. “The safety of Hood County citizens are my priority one, but please don’t interfere with the process of locating the animal and stay clear of the area being actively worked by officials," said Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds. The sheriff's office urged the Lipan community to be mindful of their surrounding and to keep their young children and animals inside at night. While the famously large land mass of Texas could easily support over 6,000 mountain. Even though human persecution has driven them locally extinct in the eastern part of the state, Texas mountain lion hunting is allowed year-round with no bag limits. Officers said they'll work with the trapper and Texas game wardens to locate the animal. In Texas, it’s always open season on mountain lions. Most could not be confirmed and only a fraction verified. The sheriff’s office has contacted a governmental trapper with the USDA, who specializes in tracking and removing mountain lions. Since 2011, more than 250 mountain lion sightings have been reported to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department from all over the state. Preliminary findings show Whiteley died from a wild animal attack, possibly a mountain lion. in Lipan in reference to a missing person call.ĭeputies were told Christopher Allen Whiteley, 28, was missing and last seen on Wednesday, in the early morning hours.ĭeputies checked a wooded area nearby and eventually found Whiteley deceased, the sheriff's office said. last Thursday, deputies with the Hood County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 15000 block of Howell Rd. John Jefferson, who is a wildlife photographer and writer, said he doesn’t have a degree in biology or. Alarming Texas to think twice before going camping, entering any forest or wood-like area, and even driving on the road. LIPAN, Texas – A man in Texas is dead after a possible mountain lion attack and officials are warning nearby residents to keep young children inside at night as they search for the animal.Īround 3:30 p.m. Recently, a press release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department came out in December 2020, sparking a lot of fascination and craze around Texas mountain lions.