by Social Hill, AR — Officials with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) confirmed that a mountain lion was struck and killed by a vehicle on Arkansas Highway 84 near Exit 91 on Interstate 30 late Wednesday night. The incident marks the first confirmed wild mountain lion death in Arkansas since February 2024 and only the third since 1975.
Discovery and Response
Authorities said the collision occurred around 10 p.m. when a motorist struck the large cat. Hot Springs County sheriff’s deputies and AGFC personnel quickly responded to the scene and recovered the animal for examination.
A necropsy was performed to confirm the cause of death. According to AGFC officials, the mountain lion was a healthy male, measuring 83 inches in length from nose to tail and weighing approximately 160 pounds.
Samples from the animal have been sent to an independent laboratory for further testing, officials said.
“Male mountain lions are known to roam, sometimes crossing multiple states,” said Spencer Daniels, AGFC Large Carnivore Program coordinator.
Rare Occurrence in Arkansas
Mountain lion sightings in Arkansas remain rare. Since 2010, AGFC has confirmed 43 verified sightings, though many may have involved the same few cats traveling across the state. Officials noted that there has been no evidence of breeding populations, as no females or cubs have ever been documented.
According to KARK News, several social media users had posted photos of a mountain lion near Lake DeGray days before the fatal incident. However, wildlife officers said there was no DNA evidence to confirm whether it was the same animal seen in those pictures.
“There is no way to confirm if the mountain lion photographed near Lake DeGray was the same individual killed on Highway 84,” AGFC officials stated.
Historical Context
Arkansas has seen very few confirmed mountain lion deaths over the past 50 years. In 2014, a 148-pound male was shot by a hunter in Bradley County, which DNA evidence later traced to the Black Hills region of Wyoming and South Dakota. That animal had been caught on trail cameras in northern Arkansas weeks earlier.
More recently, in February 2024, a U.S. Forest Service employee discovered a deceased 118-pound male mountain lion in Stone County’s Sylamore Wildlife Management Area. Officials said it appeared to have died of natural causes, as it was old and emaciated with broken and missing teeth and showed no signs of trauma.
Continued Research and Public Interest
The AGFC continues to study mountain lion migration through Arkansas, emphasizing that most sightings involve lone males traveling from western states such as South Dakota or Wyoming. Despite online speculation, there is still no established population of mountain lions breeding within the state.
Officials encourage residents to report confirmed sightings with photos or physical evidence to help track the species’ movement through the region.
“Every verified report helps us better understand where these animals travel and how far they range,” Daniels said.
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