A Mandan woman reported seeing a mountain lion snatch a cat in her neighborhood Monday evening. The sighting hasn't been confirmed by the state Game and Fish Department,

Jean Fischer said she was in the kitchen with her grandchildren about 6:30 in the evening when one of the grandkids said they saw an antelope through the window.

Fischer, who lives on the far east end of Division Street, said she knows there aren't any antelope in the neighborhood, and got up from the table to look.

About 250 yards away she said she saw a mountain lion running out of a north-south coulee, pounce on a black cat, then scurry away.

Fischer said a friend also saw the lion. She said they contacted the district game warden about the incident.

Fischer's husband, Al, said the warden came to their home later that night and told them there have been reports of mountain lion sightings in the area prior to that night.

The Game and Fish Department said Wednesday a warden was on site that evening but found no sign of the cougar.

Greg Link of the Game and Fish Department said they investigated a "cluster" of reported mountain lion sightings northeast of Bismarck about six weeks ago.

He said a dog was brought in to work the area but again, no evidence of a mountain lion was uncovered.

Link said typically the mountain lions that roam through urban areas like Mandan and Bismarck are young males that have been pushed out of their usual territory by dominant males and go in search of mates and food.

The territory of a mountain lion can be as much as 100 square miles, he said.

Adult males can reach a length of up to 8 feet from nose to tail and weigh up to 150 pounds while females are smaller, weighing between 65-90 pounds.

They primarily hunt deer but also prey on smaller animals like rabbits and raccoons.

(Reach reporter Brian Gehring at 250-8254 or brian.gehring@bismarcktribune.com)