MEDORA - Biologists and Game and Fish Department officials believe North Dakota may have acquired a population of mountain lions over the past few years, though they are not sure of the numbers.

Mike Oehler, a Theodore Roosevelt National Park biologist, said he is "convinced we have resident lions."

"The answer is probably, yes," Deputy Game and Fish Director Roger Rostvet said.

Both men say the animals' nocturnal nature, and the fact that home to a lion often covers hundreds of square miles, make them difficult to count.

Ranchers and hunters report animals in the Badlands area that were likely lion kills. Oehler said park rangers have come across "periodic kills and tracks occasionally," but he has no idea of the actual number of lions in the area.

Game and Fish Department biologist Doro-thy Fecske said earlier that there were 67 cougar sightings in North Dakota last year, but only seven were confirmed.

Last week, two mountain bikers said a lion shadowed them along the Maah Daah Hey trail in southwestern North Dakota. They escaped injury after throwing rocks and sticks and screaming at the cougar, and using their bicycles as shields.

The incident did not deter cyclists from the North Dakota Badlands over the weekend.

Lisa Rew, of Bozeman, Mont., was on the Maah Daah Hey, worried more about what she called a tortuous bike trail than about mountain lions.

"I think it's great that lions are around here. It shows that there's still some wilderness left," she said. Her husband Jeremy, talked about the beauty of the badlands.

Jim and Maren Hagen, of Grand Rapids, Minn., also biked the Maah Daah Hey over the weekend and camped at Bennett campground.

Jim, who admitted he did not tell his wife about recent lion sightings, said, "I think it's great that they're here. I've been all over … around bears, wolves. I like them. But you have to treat them with respect."

Said Maren: "I hope to see one at a distance, but I hope I'm fourth in line."

Ben Kappel, of Dickinson, who could be found trying to fix his crumpled bike in the South Unit of Teddy Roosevelt National Park, was not aware of the recent lion incident when he biked the Maah Daah Hey.

"My dad told me about it after I got back," he said.

Cousin Patrick Kappel said he would not consider skipping a trek on the trail because of a lion sighting.