While driving down Rt-93 south of Missoula into the
Bitterroot Valley to go to the Lolo Creek Steakhouse (which is built from local logs and is decorated with dead animals) we saw quite the sight. We almost pulled a U turn for a second look. Parked just next to the road at a bar was a pickup truck with a very large mountain lion strapped down in the truck bed. This was no kitten; this was a full on large lion. People were standing around taking pictures of the thing. The guy was towing a snowmobile (lots of snow in the mountains here still) so who knows if he just dragged it out of the woods while hunting. Mountain lions are a rare sight. Cats tend to stay hidden and stalk their prey. Usually your first clue that one is in the area is when you are laying on the ground with its jaws around the back of your neck. My coworker Lewis actually got a rare glimpse of one while doing work in the Bitterroot last year.
Missoula has three elk packs that roam the area. Moose are rather common although I have yet to see one. I did
see a wild turkey once. Spotting a mountain lion would be nice but similar to coming across a grizzly in the wild I won't be disappointed if it doesn't happen (
although I did come across ol' griz once).
We were all quite stunned at the size of this beast. After dinner people were still out taking pictures of the thing.
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