On December 31, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation of human remains found at the Pima Canyon Trail near 1st Ave. and Magee Rd. On January 1, the Arizona Game and Fish Department announced that mountain lions had eaten the human remains on the trail, and the animals had been killed.
It is not believed that the mountain lions killed the person. The Pima County Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy.
“Mountain lions are not routinely scavengers. A mountain lion eating human remains is abnormal behavior. Those that do are more likely to attack a human being in the future,” said Regional Supervisor Raul Vega of AZGFD in the news release. “In addition, they did so 50 yards from a popular hiking trail and within sight of homes, and repeatedly showed no fear of responding officers. They were a clear and present danger to public safety.”