Mountain Lion Tracked in Nebraska Illegally Killed in Missouri

Iron Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A mountain lion originally tagged in Nebraska as part of a long-term research project was illegally shot and killed in Iron County, nearly 800 miles from where it was first discovered.

Joseph Licklider recently pleaded guilty to shooting the protected animal, which had been ear-tagged as a kitten in 2023 for a wildlife study. He admitted to killing the mountain lion from a tree stand during deer season and later posted photos of the kill on social media. The Missouri Department of Conservation determined the shooting was not justified. As part of a plea agreement, Licklider was fined $2,000, had his hunting rifle confiscated, and his hunting privileges suspended for one year.

The mountain lion's death marks another case of Nebraska-tagged cats traveling long distances, sometimes hundreds of miles, in search of mates.

Wildlife experts say the young male was likely following natural instincts, although it was unlikely to encounter a female until reaching Florida due to sparse populations east of the Midwest.