2020 was an active year for spotting mountain lions in Oklahoma
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Updated: 8:43 AM CST Jan 8, 2021
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Updated: 8:43 AM CST Jan 8, 2021
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HERE TO TELL US MORE. ERIC: THE AIR IS -- THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION HAS BEEN KEEPING RECORDS SINCE THE EARLY 2000’S . THIS YEAR, THEY CONFIRMED 7 WHICH IS THE MOST SIGHTINGS IN A YEAR. PART OF THE REASON IS THERE WAS MORE PARTICIPATION IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. >> INSTEAD OF MONITORING TRAIL CAMERAS FROM AUGUST UNTIL THE END OF DEER SEASON, THEY MIGHT HAVE DECIDED TO CHECK THAT CAMERA ALL YEAR LONG. ERIC: JARED TELLS ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN UPTICK IN AREAS IN THE PANHANDLE, BUT THERE IS A HEAVILY ESTABLISHED POPULATION AND SIGHTINGS AREN’T A SURPRISE. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MORE SIGHTINGS IN NORTH CENTRAL THIS YEAR. >> HAVING THOSE AREAS IN NORTH CENTRAL WHERE WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN MOUNTAIN LION ACTIVITY, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING TO PROMPT FURTHER RESEARCH. ERIC: ACCORDING TO THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION, THERE HAVE BEEN AROUND 40 CONFIRMED MOUNTAIN LION SIGHTINGS IN OKLAHOMA SINCE THE DEPARTMENT BEGAN KEEPING RECORDS ON THEM IN 2002 AND MOST OF THE TIME IT’S A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY. IF YOU DO THINK YOU SE