23 Years Ago, a Mountain Lion Spotted in Lewis County, Missouri

Missouri has had quite a few mountain lion sightings in 2023 already, but most of them happen in the southern half of the state. Not so 23 years ago as one of these big cats really was spotted in Lewis County, Missouri.

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I keep a close eye on the Missouri Department of Conservation's mountain lion sightings site. If you look closely, you'll see this sighting in northeast Missouri.

If you look at the details, you'll see this is a confirmed mountain lion sighting in Lewis County, Missouri. Yes, confirmed by state officials not just someone's crazy story (although I'm sure there's a doozie that goes with this one).

According to the official Missouri state report (yes, official, not anecdotal story), it took place on December 31, 2000. It was confirmed the next day on January 1, 2001. Here are the exact words from the Department of Conservation about what big cat was spotted in Lewis County, Missouri:

A video was recorded by a deer hunter in a tree stand and was confirmed by MLRT.

Note: if you're the hunter that was in that Lewis County tree stand, I'd LOVE to see that video and share it here. Pretty please?

Yes, this mountain lion sighting happened almost 23 years ago, but it's another reminder that you never know when you might stumble across an apex predator when out in the Missouri woods. Yes, it can and does happen in northeast Missouri and this report is proof even if it is rare.