Three young mountain lions found under deck in Kendrick euthanized by game officials

KENDRICK -- Three young mountain lions that were found under a deck at a Kendrick residence have been euthanized, Idaho Fish and Game announced today.

“We made the decision to euthanize because lions habituated in an urban setting pose a public safety risk,” Clearwater Region Supervisor JJ Teare said in a news release.

Besides posing a risk to the public, mountain lions who are comfortable in an urban setting are also "difficult and risky" to relocate to a wild area.

The presence of the mountain lions was first reported Saturday by Fish and Game. The agency first advised people to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings.

"Fish and Game does not intend to remove predators like mountain lions and bears from the landscape, but instead to encourage them to continue to live in natural habitats, outside of our communities," said the news release that was distributed Saturday. "Fish and Game has options to deter wildlife, such as hazing, only resorting to lethal removal if an animal has become aggressive when living among people and is determined to be a threat to public safety."