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STATE ORDERS DEPUTY TO SHOOT AND KILL A MOUNTAIN LION IN YUCCA VALLEY

A Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a mountain lion in Yucca Valley Tuesday night that had been killing livestock over the past several months. On Monday night, deputies were called to a home in the 5900 block of Avalon Avenue where a mountain lion had entered a chicken coop and killed birds inside. Deputies were able to chase it off. Sheriff’s Captain Trevis Newport said deputies were called back to the same home about 10:38 p.m. Tuesday for a mountain lion that had broken through the roof of a chicken coop.
When deputies arrived Tuesday night, the lion was still inside the enclosure, surrounded by several injured and dead birds. Deputies attempted to scare off the lion, but it was acting more aggressively than it had on previous occasions and refused to leave.
“Unfortunately, animal control is not responsible for capturing wildlife, such as large mountain lions. Deputies tried using patrol car sirens and loud noises. However, the lion continued to attack other animals. If the lion would have escaped the enclosure, it could’ve injured others in the neighborhood if not captured immediately. Deputies also could not have approached the enclosure as they would have risked being attacked. Your deputies have a responsibility to protect the citizens of the communities we serve. There were discussions with Fish & Wildlife, which resulted in this very unfortunate outcome. We could not expect the residents in the area to be held hostage within their homes, as many of them have jobs, school, etc. We understand your concerns and would like you to know this decision was not taken lightly. Your deputies truly respect the wildlife that surrounds the communities we serve. If there were any other immediate resolutions, we can ensure you they would have been utilized.
Newport responded to questions about why deputies did not tranquilize the lion to relocate it.
“Once an animal has been tranquilized, it must be secured immediately. Once the animal is tranquilized, it must be closely monitored and properly secured. Our Department … [does] not have these resources, as our primary responsibility is the protection of human life. Unfortunately, your deputies cannot stay with an animal for extended periods of time, while other citizens are calling 911 and are in need of immediate assistance. For example, if a mountain lion were tranquilized, a deputy couldn’t put it in his or her patrol vehicle while responding to an emergency call and he or she certainly couldn’t just leave the animal at the scene.
“The unfortunate factor in all of these cases lies with the fact that humans cannot currently exist among inherently dangerous wildlife, which then causes a law enforcement response. It would certainly benefit us all to have more accessible resources such as Fish & Wildlife at all times. However, they too are faced with many geographic obstacles in the sense that they cover thousands of square miles per warden.
“The deputies also faced the reality that other residents in the area would need to be leaving for work and school within hours. They could not leave the lion unsecured in the neighborhood under these circumstances. Your deputies have a priority to protect/preserve human life, as well as the personal property of those they serve. We are very saddened to have to report this incident as this was definitely not the outcome we desired.”
Deputies contacted a Fish and Wildlife officer, who advised deputies to kill the lion due to the threat it posed to area residents and their domestic animals, and because there were no other less lethal ways to stop the lion’s attacks. Fish and Wildlife took possession of the lion after its death. The same mountain lion is believed to be responsible for several other deaths of domestic animals in the area over the past several months.

Updated 12/13 8:10 a.m. with clarifications.

Updated 9:30 with comments from Captain Trevis Newport.

Deputies took this photo of the mountain lion inside a chicken coop in Yucca Valley Monday night. The lion returned Tuesday night and deputies were forced to kill it when it refused to leave the coop.
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