Nebraska Cougar outlook by Wildlife officials in the State logical and reasonable-NO REASON TO FEAR LIONS!

(Neb.)-Game And Parks Says No Reason To Fear Lions (Chadron)-More sightings of mountain lions  in the area have been reported,  as well as pictures sent to KCSR, and a 100 pound lion was shot north of Hemingford this week. Sightings are becoming  more common, but according  to Jeff Hoffman, Assistant Administrator in  the Nebraska Game and Parks Wildlife Division, this isn't any reason for  people to worry. They just need  to become more educated on the animals. Hoffman said that the population of lions,  also known as cougars, has been  growing, and he believes a lot of the animals  originated in South Dakota and  Wyoming. Lions have an individual home area of 100 to 200 miles, and as the  population grows, the younger male lions get  pushed out into unoccupied territories.  When they get pushed out of our neighboring  states, the first place they encounter is the Pine Ridge area of Nebraska. Hoffman also  said that these animals are typically  shy and try to avoid humans, so he doesn't know  if they are becoming more  accustomed to the presence of humans, or the animals  sighted are very young and  just don't know any better. Hoffman stated that the Game and Parks have been recording sightings in Nebraska  since 1991, and since that time there have been  112 confirmed sightings, with the  majority of those in the Panhandle. There have been  hundreds more sightings reported, but not confirmed. For instance, a picture of a possible lion was taken near the museum  east of town a couple of weeks ago, but Hoffman said  even though he has seen the picture,  the quality of that was not sufficient to confirm that sighting. A picture sent to KCSR last  week from Chuck and Mary Helen Cogdill has not yet made  its way to their office. Another reason sightings seem to be going up, may be the fact  that the public is becoming  more aware of the animals. And, some of the pictures  Hoffman says they have received  in Lincoln are taken from trail cams, which are becoming  more common. He does say  that there are NO documented reports in Nebraska of attacks  on people or livestock by a lion. Hoffman offers this advice if someone should come face to  face with a cougar. Do NOT  turn and run. He says this will trigger the chase instinct in the cat. Stand tall and try to make  yourself as big as possible. Hoffman says if you have on a coat,  open it up to make yourself  appear larger. Do NOT make eye contact, as the cat may see  this as a challenge. Slowly back  away into a protected area. And, whatever people do,  he stresses to NOT PANIC. These cats  are just wildlife trying to make their way. If someone feels threatened by a lion, Hoffman says they can  shoot the animal to protect themselves  or their family, but if you see a lion walking by and there is no  threat, it is illegal to kill the animal.