Home / Environment / Lion Poached Near Gunnison Park, Officials Seek Clues
Lion Poached Near Gunnison Park, Officials Seek Clues
24 Nov, 2025
Summary
- A female mountain lion was illegally killed in Taylor Canyon, Colorado.
- The lion was part of a CPW density study for population management.
- The killing occurred just before the legal hunting season began.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is actively investigating the poaching of a female mountain lion in the Taylor Canyon area, north of Gunnison. The animal was discovered shot and its carcass discarded near group campsites in Gunnison City Mountain Park. This specific mountain lion was a known participant in a CPW study focused on understanding population size and movement within the Gunnison Basin.
The discovery of the lion's body occurred on Friday, just three days prior to the official start of Colorado's legal mountain lion hunting season. CPW officials are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. They emphasize that poaching is a serious crime with far-reaching negative consequences for wildlife, outdoor recreation, legal hunting, businesses, and taxpayers.
This incident underscores the broader problem of wildlife poaching in the United States, with a recent study indicating that less than 4% of poaching incidents are detected. The financial cost associated with poaching is estimated to be around $1.4 billion annually, highlighting the substantial loss to conservation and public resources. CPW is offering rewards and encouraging anonymous tips.
