Authorities Kill Mountain Lion That Might Have Attacked Pinos Altos Man

PINOS ALTOS, N.M. (AP) – A mountain lion that might have been the same one that attacked and killed a Pinos Altos man has been captured in a snare and killed.

The state Department of Game and Fish says the 125-pound male puma had four bullet holes, apparently from buckshot, when it was nabbed last night.

An agency spokesman, Dan Williams, says the cougar was then shot to death this morning.

The animal’s body will be taken to the state police crime lab for a necropsy.

A state game officer had shot and wounded a mountain lion with buckshot last Thursday near the home of 55-year-old Robert Nawojski.

He was killed June 17th or 18th near his mobile home in a wooded area of Pinos Altos.

His partially eaten and buried body was found last Friday near a rock ledge about 60 yards from his home.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)