Blog: a web log
05/09/2003: "Mountain lion killed in Denver"
DENVER - A female adult mountain lion was hit by a car and killed at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday in Denver. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) had received sporadic reports of a big cat seen in the northwest metro area beginning on Tuesday, but was unable to find the animal and confirm the sightings.
"It was an adult female, but fairly young," said Area Wildlife Manager Liza Moore. "We estimated it to be 2-to-3 years old, because she had good clean teeth, with no real wear or breakage on the teeth. The lion was probably 90-to100 lbs., which is a little thin, but she appeared otherwise healthy." The lion was not lactating and there was no indication she had recently had young.
Denver Police said Jarred Tobin, 22, of Denver hit the mountain lion in the "fast lane" of westbound I-70, as the animal attempted to cross the interstate from north to south across the westbound lanes. Tobin told police that the animal jumped in front of him and he was unable to avoid hitting it. He did not know until afterwards that it was a mountain lion.
"The lion was hit in the hind end and probably died instantly," Moore said.
Moore and district wildlife manager Gene Abram picked up the lion's body on the shoulder of westbound I-70, just west of the ramp to Pecos Street at 11 p.m. last night.
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