Lion collar malfunction complicates tracking

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has been having trouble tracking a mountain lion since its satellite collar malfunctioned.

Game biologist Brett Wiedmann says the collar was put in place in March and stopped giving data on Jan. 3. The lion can still be tracked by plane using high-frequency signals, but that’s a more complicated process.

The lion is the only one being tracked by the state. There are no plans for a new collar.

The male lion was caught in a foothold trap in December 2006 north of Medora. Known as M-12, he is being monitored to provide information to biologists on mountain lion habits and habitat.