The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is investigating what may be a mountain lion attack on a pregnant mare just east of Bismarck.

The mare was attacked Tuesday night in a pasture near the McDowell Dam Recreation Area, the mare's owner, Kyle Berquist, said Wednesday afternoon.

District game warden Jeff Violett was sent to the site of the attack Wednesday afternoon, Randy Kreil, wildlife division chief, said Wednesday.

"He's looking for tracks or physical confirmation of a lion," Kreil said.

"Without question, I know darn well this was not a wire injury but an attack, and the vet agreed," Berquist said. "No other animal can attack a horse the size of this one and rip it to pieces."

Kreil reminded people that if they "see a lion in position to threaten them or their property, they are within their rights to take the animal out."

"It was an interesting night," said Berquist. "A lot of Iodine and a lot of blood."

Berquist went out at about 9:30 Tuesday night to bring in the horses from the pasture.

"They were just in a panic and running in circles. Igot them back to the corral and got them to the light, and next Igot to see the mare with blood from the top of her back on down," Berquist said.

The mare's prognosis is good, he added.

"They have to leave the big wounds open because of bacteria. If they seal them, they are encouraging the bacteria to attack," Berquist said.

Berquist said he now carries a gun with him when he goes to the barn.

"It's a simple fact. They are capture animals that lie in wait. If they go after that big of a horse, a human being is no problem at all," he said. The mare is 16 hands, he said, "the biggest horse I own." A hand measurement is usually considered 4 inches.

Berquist and his wife also have two young children.

"Next time, it may be a child," he said.

There have been other reports of lion sightings in the area, said Berquist, who thought those sightings had been reported.

"One couple had photographs of footprints, and Ifound two deer carcasses in my pasture this morning. Right out in my pasture, two freshly eaten carcasses," Berquist said.

"I'm not aware of those reports," Kreil said of any earlier lion sightings.

NDGFD also has not confirmed that the wounds on the mare came from a mountain lion, Kreil said.

"We're working to try to evaluate the situation," he said.

To that end, NDGFD has asked USDA Wildlife Services to examine the injured horse.

"They have seen a number of lion attacks on livestock, and they can check out the animal to see if (the injuries)can be attributed to a lion," Kreil said.

Ryan Powers, who handles disease issues, examined the mare but was unable to draw a conclusion.

"It would be premature to say anything. Jeremy Duckwitz will look at the mare in the morning," he said.

Duckwitz is a wildlife specialist who deals in injured livestock among other issues.

"I would compare (mountain lions) to alligators in Florida. They rip and shred. I didn't believe what those animals are capable of until now. It's scary," Berquist said.

(Reach outdoor writer Richard Hinton at 250-8256 or richard.hinton@bismarcktribune.com.)