‘Wait, that’s not a buck.’ Trail camera captures a wild first for Oklahoma county

Until recently, a mountain lion sighting had never been confirmed in Payne County, Oklahoma.

But then Rodger Black’s trail camera captured a wild creature “in the wee hours of the morning,” according to a Nov. 9 Facebook post from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

“Wait, that’s not a buck,” state wildlife officials said.

It’s a mountain lion.

The wild cat was spotted near Stillwater, about 60 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, according to the department.

“Awesome photo and thanks for sharing your sighting, Rodger!” officials said.

Mountain lions in Oklahoma

“The mountain lion is one of Oklahoma’s most elusive and discussed wildlife species,” according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Mountain lions, also called cougars, are considered a “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” in Oklahoma.

There isn’t any evidence of “viable populations” in Oklahoma, officials said, but it’s believed the “transient” animals spotted in the state may be wandering from other areas.

The nearest mountain lion populations are in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and South Dakota, according to the department.

In Oklahoma, it’s illegal to shoot a mountain lion unless you are protecting yourself or your property, authorities said. If you kill a mountain lion, you must immediately call the state department.

If you spot a mountain lion, officials ask you to fill out this report form.

This story was originally published November 10, 2023 at 11:58 AM with the headline "‘Wait, that’s not a buck.’ Trail camera captures a wild first for Oklahoma county."