Longview Officer Strikes Mountain Lion

In Longview, Texas, a police officer struck a mountain lion with a patrol vehicle around 3 a.m. on December 10, resulting in the animal being put down due to severe injuries. The incident occurred in the 3800 block of West Loop 281, near Pirate Stadium, and has raised concerns about the increasing interactions between humans and mountain lions as urban areas expand into their habitats. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists noted that mountain lions are typically found in remote regions but have been sighted more frequently in urban locales, including recent sightings in Frisco, Lake Dallas, and Plano. Following the incident, a TPWD game warden took possession of the mountain lion's carcass for further examination. The Longview Police Department emphasized the rarity of such encounters in the area, which is approximately 140 miles from the last confirmed sighting.