A Missouri deer hunter just killed a mountain lion. How common are these big cats?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Missouri deer hunter reportedly killed a mountain lion Monday, Nov. 18, according to a social media post from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

“We are aware of an incident that occurred this past weekend in Iron County where a deer hunter killed a mountain lion,” the department wrote on Facebook on Monday. “Conservation agents are actively investigating this incident, so additional details are not available at this time.”

Rural Iron County in the southeast region of the state is located in the Ozark Mountains, where the majority of confirmed mountain lion reports have occurred.

But despite some fears surrounding mountain lions, these elusive animals are in far more danger from humans than humans are from them. Here’s what to know about rare mountain lion sightings in Missouri.

How common are mountain lions in Missouri?

There have been 120 confirmed reports of mountain lions in Missouri since 1996, with only two recorded in the Kansas City area.

In 2002, a mountain lion was struck and killed by a car in Clay County. And around 2010, a Platte County resident took what the Department of Conservation calls on its website an “unmistakable” photo of a mountain lion in a tree.

But despite confirmed mountain lion sightings across the state, experts don’t believe the animals have a breeding population in Missouri.

“A few females have been detected over the years which increases the chances that breeding could occur in the state, but MDC currently has no evidence of reproduction within Missouri,” the Department of Conservation writes.

What should I do if I think I saw a mountain lion?

While mountain lion sightings may be frightening to some, officials add that interactions between humans and live mountain lions are extremely rare. Many of the 120 sightings confirmed so far in the state have been through trail cameras with no humans nearby.

“Mountain lions are naturally shy of people and seldom cause problems, even in states with thriving populations,” the Department of Conservation writes. “The danger of a mountain lion attack is highly unlikely compared to many other familiar dangers we encounter every day.”

Mountain lion sightings are extremely rare, and direct encounters are even rarer. If you do find yourself face to face with a mountain lion, the National Park Service recommends standing your ground, making yourself appear larger, speaking loudly and throwing objects in the animal’s direction. Avoid bending over, running away or approaching the lion.

These behaviors can help convince the lion that you are not a vulnerable prey animal and not worth attacking. However, you likely won’t need these tips: There is no evidence that mountain lions have ever attacked people, pets or livestock in Missouri.

To report a suspected mountain lion sighting in Missouri, email the Department of Conservation’s Large Carnivore Response Team at mountain.lion@mdc.mo.gov.