The mountain lion population is shifting to places here in Wyoming it rarely been found in the past.

Scott Talbot, Director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission tells our affiliate KROE, his agency is getting more and more reports of the cats are showing up where you usually don’t see them.

Talbot says cities and more urban areas provide a safe haven for mule deer from predators like the mountain lion.  Talbot says the deer population in Wyoming is actually decreasing while the mountain lion population is increasing, so mountain lions are going to where the deer are.

Because of the increase in the number of mountain lions in some areas of Wyoming, Talbot says the Game and Fish Department will be issuing more licenses to help manage their population.