Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
UTAH COUNTY – A cougar was stoned to death near Payson in January, according to wildlife officials, and they are looking for those responsible.
On Jan. 26, a father and daughter were hiking in the hills east of Payson when they noticed a group of people at a distance near the base of a small tree. When group members saw the two approaching, they fled west toward Payson canyon, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
When the man and his daughter approached the tree, they saw the body of a dead cougar covered in blood. Several large rocks found by the carcass are believed to have been used to kill the animal, DWR officials said.
The man searched the area for the individuals he had seen near the tree, but did not locate them. He alerted wildlife officials to the animal’s death.
Anyone with information about the killing or the individuals responsible is asked to call the DWR poaching hotline at 1-800-662-3337.
