Colorado Parks and Wildlife is asking for help from the public in tracking down a suspect related to the illegal killing of a mountain lion.

According to a press release on the matter, a report was received on Friday related to a mountain lion carcass that was found near the group campsites at Gunnison City Mountain Park. Upon further investigation, it was determined that a female mountain lion had been shot through the chest and left in bushes in the area.

The mountain lion that was killed was previously part of a Colorado Parks and Wildlife mountain lion density study in the area of Gunnison Basin. The mountain lion was killed out of season with the carcass discovered three days before the start of the legal mountain lion hunting season in Colorado.

“We are looking for leads or information anyone might have that could assist us with this investigation,” said CPW District Wildlife Manager Codi Prior. “Somebody killed this lion and then dumped its carcass in the place where it was discovered.”

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife press release also noted that any wildlife that’s killed in self-defense should be reported immediately to the closest Colorado Parks and Wildlife office. While this mention was included in the press release, there was no explicit suggested that a self-defense killing was suspected to be the case in this scenario.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Gunnison wildlife office at 970-641-7060.

Anyone who wants to submit a tip anonymously can contact Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)