A mountain lion carcass found in Arkansas recently is further proof that the species is returning to the state. In a statement on Friday, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission announced that the discovery was made in the Sylamore Wildlife Management Area in the Ozark Mountains by a U.S. Forest Service employee.
“An adult, male mountain lion weighing 118 pounds and measuring approximately 85 inches in length was examined Thursday at the AGFC Calico Rock regional office,” says AGFC State Wildlife Veterinarian Jenn Ballard, who explained that there was no evidence that the mountain lion died of a bullet wound or had been hit by a car
“The carcass was moderately decomposed and was extremely thin. It had severely worn, broken and missing teeth, and the stomach was empty.”
Testing for viruses and toxins is underway.
This is the second mountain lion carcass found in Arkansas in the last decade; in 2014 a hunter shot and killed a mountain lion in Bradley County, marking the first time a a cougar had been killed in the state since 1975.