Mountain Lion Sighting Near Edmond Found To Be False, Wildlife Department Says

Claims that a mountain lion was spotted near Edmond are false, Oklahoma wildlife authorities said Friday.

Photos spread on social media showed an animal in the Fenwick neighborhood, at the All-American Pizza near NW 164th St and Pennsylvania Avenue.

The animal in the photo was a house cat, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.

“Both wardens and biologist were able to confirm the animal in the photo was a house cat that appeared larger due to the topography and angle of the photo,” the department said in a Facebook post.

Oklahoma City police were called about 7:30 p.m. Thursday to the area. Officers established a perimeter to contain the animal and used a helicopter to search, according to a police report.

Officers did not find a mountain lion but instead picked up a small cat. A department spokesperson could not confirm that the cat officers found was the same animal photographed at All American Pizza.

An Oklahoma Department of Wildlife spokesperson did not leave any room for interpretation when asked if it was possible the animal was a mountain lion.

“This was a house cat, a domestic cat, and not a mountain lion,” said Micah Holmes of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife.

Holmes said there are mountain lions in Oklahoma and they tend to avoid urban areas. The department has a running list of mountain lion sightings, which you can here.