Wildlife biologists ponder strange mountain lion

Idaho Fish and Game biologists would like to know more about a yearling mountain lion that was legally harvested by a hunter southwest of Preston December 30.

When the hunter took the animal through a Fish and Game check station, the inspector noticed a strange deformity on the animal’s head. It appeared to be a set of teeth and even some whiskers.

Regional Conservation Educator Jennifer Jackson said the lion was shot in Hunting Unit 73 near Weston. She said nobody in the Pocatello regional office had ever seen anything like it before.

Biologists speculate it could be either the remnants of a conjoined twin or a terratoma (monstruous) tumor.

Biologists are trying to contact the hunter, who lives outside the area, to do some additional research.