YANKTON, S.D. (AP) — Humans were not the only ones displaced by this summer's flooding across the state.
An official with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks says the high waters also forced mountain lions to relocate.
Regional Wildlife manager Ron Schauer tells the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan that the movement has caused the number of reported mountain lion sightings to increase in eastern South Dakota.
He says mountain lions typically remain in areas that are densely wooded. In South Dakota, that tends to be river corridors.
Schauer says the department believes the flooding forced the animals out of their natural habitat and that's why there have been more sightings.
Schauer says two of the 45 sightings reported in eastern South Dakota this year have been verified.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
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