Lion Confirmed in Clinton; Dog, Maybe Cat, Confirmed in Iowa City

Iowa Department of Natural Resources' confirmation of a mountain lion sighting in Clinton raises questions about the validity of other reports, including recent claims in Iowa City.

On Tuesday, the DNR confirmed that a Sept. 17 photo taken along the Wapsipinicon River in the eastern part of Clinton County was of a mountain lion, said Vince Evelsizer, a DNR wildlife biologist.

“When it comes to mountain lions, Iowa tends to be a place to pass through, but not to stay. It is very likely this animal will keep moving, if it’s even still in the area, and will keep to itself,” Evelsizer said.

The report comes the same month were reported in Iowa City, included two on Sept. 2 near , which prompted a soft lock-down. The other sighting occurred on Sept. 14.

It was reported , which is another name for a mountain lion, near .

The DNR has no evidence to support or deny the sightings near Horn, so that could have been valid. If so, it is possible it is the same mountain lion as the one confirmed in Clinton, Evelsizer said.

"We just don't know for sure. It could be," Evelsizer said.

However, the DNR has rejected the Sept. 14 claim, Evelsizer said. From a blurry cell phone picture taken from the Hy-Vee pharmacy drive-through of an animal walking into tall prairie grass, specialists determined the animal in the photograph was not large enough to be a mountain lion.

Tim Thompson, a DNR wildlife biologist, helped shoot down the claim.  He said mountain lions are typically 30 inches tall at the shoulders and 78 inches long from head to tail.

"It was probably a house cat or a dog. People want to see them. That's what it ends up being, and their mind plays tricks on them," Thompson said.