37-559. Destruction of predators; permit required; when; mountain lion; actions authorized.

(1) Any farmer or rancher owning or operating a farm or ranch may destroy or have destroyed any predator preying on livestock or poultry or causing other agricultural depredation on land owned or controlled by him or her without a permit issued by the commission. For purposes of this subsection, predator means a badger, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, mink, opossum, raccoon, red fox, or skunk.

(2) Any farmer or rancher owning or operating a farm or ranch, or his or her agent, may kill a mountain lion immediately without prior notice to or permission from the commission if he or she encounters a mountain lion and the mountain lion is in the process of stalking, killing, or consuming livestock on the farmer's or rancher's property. The farmer or rancher or his or her agent shall be responsible for immediately notifying the commission and arranging with the commission to transfer the mountain lion to the commission.

(3) Any person shall be entitled to defend himself or herself or another person without penalty if, in the presence of such person, a mountain lion stalks, attacks, or shows unprovoked aggression toward such person or another person.

(4) This section shall not be construed to allow a farmer or rancher or his or her agent to destroy or have destroyed species which are protected by the Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act or rules and regulations adopted and promulgated under the act, the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., the federal Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq., the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 668 et seq., the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq., or federal regulations under such federal acts.

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