BIG CAT SLAUGHTER
Three mountain lions killed after feeding on human remains near popular hiking trail
THREE mountain lions found feasting on human remains near a popular hiking trail have been killed.
Authorities were forced to kill the animals because they "showed no fear of responding officers" while the remains were being removed from the trail in Arizona.
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The Arizona Game and Fish Department deemed the wild animals a threat to the public due to their "abnormal behavior."
"Rarely scavengers, such abnormal behavior made them more likely to attack humans in the future," the agency said in a statement to the .
The lions were killed after human remains were allegedly found in their tracks and droppings, according to .
Although the mountain lions aren't suspected of killing the victim, cops told the paper they moved the corpse because of how the wildcats were acting.
Detectives determined that the mountain lions were eating the remains about 50 yards from the Pima Canyon Trail in Tucson, police added.
The area was closed off to the public on Tuesday as officials tried to trap the mountain lions that "recently interacted with humans," the U.S. Forest Service said.
Authorities initially said the region in the Coronado National Forest could be closed until January 14.
However, officials reopened Pima Canyon Trail and its surrounding areas on Wednesday.
Police first responded to the trail at around 7am Tuesday, and local deputies confirmed that the remains were discovered just after noon.
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There's no word on whether the person was male or female, reported.
Mark Hart of the Game and Fish Department told the news station he doesn't believe it the animals attacked the person, but the agency "can't rule it out at this time."
Authorities are investigating, and the medical examiner will work to identify the person's name and cause of death.
The state's Game and Fish Department estimates the mountain lion population to be between 2,500 and 3,000, according to the .
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