This archive report was first published on 2 January 2020.
On January 2, 2020, human remains were discovered at Pima Canyon Trail in the hills north of Tucson, Arizona.
Three mountain lions were found to have been feeding on the remains, prompting concerns about their behavior and potential threat to humans.
According to Mark Hart, a spokesman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the lions were not believed to have attacked the individual who died, but were instead eating the remains after the fact.
"We do not believe the lion attacked the individual who died there. An autopsy will tell us more. But our belief is they were eating the human remains after the fact," Hart told local TV station KGUN9.
Feeding on human remains made the lions a danger, as they were unlikely to show fear of humans and may attack in the future.
"Rarely scavengers, such abnormal behavior made them more likely to attack humans in the future," the Game and Fish Department stated.
Due to their territorial nature, relocating the lions was not considered a viable option.
"When you move a mountain lion in this part of the world, you're just going to put it into another lion's territory, they're very territorial and will fight to the death over a piece of real estate," Hart explained.
