Mountain lion sighting in SE Mo. confirmed

STRINGTOWN, Mo. (AP) - For the second time in the past few weeks, a mountain lion sighting has been confirmed in southeast Missouri.

Trail cameras captured a big cat on a Ripley County farm last weekend.

Lee Ray Pickrell, who owns the farm, told the Southeast Missourian (http://bit.ly/VdSxNc ) that the cameras were set on food plots for deer. He was stunned when he checked and saw photos of a beefy male mountain lion.

Ripley County conservation agent Darren Killian confirmed the sighting. He says it is the first confirmed mountain lion in the county.

Resource scientist Jeff Beringer says male mountain lions travel extensively looking for new territory.

Another trail camera photographed a mountain lion Oct. 10 on the Current River Conservation Area near Ellington, Mo.

---

Information from: Southeast Missourian, http://www.semissourian.com