Although it hasn't been confirmed, a recent report of a mountain lion attack near Sheridan Lake has likely heightened the public's awareness about the possibility of such an attack.

But state Game, Fish & Parks Department officials say it won't directly affect procedures of handling lions or the hunting season. GF&P officials maintain that lion attacks are indeed rare, and they don't view this particular report as a sign that people should become overly concerned about them.

Rapid City resident Ryan Hughes told GF&P officials he was attacked by a cougar Saturday, March 1, while standing on the shore near where he was ice fishing. Hughes said the cat jumped on him, scratched him as he struggled with it, and then took off.

GF&P officials say they consider the report credible and are in the process of verifying it.

Diana Guerrero, an animal behaviorist who works in California, says lion attacks are rare and will probably remain so. But she thinks the attacks are increasing as humans continue to go deeper into lion habitat.

In many cases, lion attacks are the result of someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Guerrero said. A sick or injured lion would be more apt to attack humans, she said.

"What's happening now is we've moved into their territory," she said. "They're more used to humans. They're not as big a novelty as they once were. And I think that's part of the problem."

But whether or not the GF&P can substantiate the attack on Hughes, wildlife division director Tony Leif doesn't think it will cause the agency to suddenly raise the mountain lion hunting-season quota or take any other immediate action.

"I don't believe - regardless of the results of the investigation - that it will have any impact on our management philosophy and our management direction," he said.

Leif said the GF&P bases its management decisions on scientific evidence as well as public sentiment, which he said currently supports managing for a sustainable population of lions in the hills.

The management philosophies are based on years of research and by gauging public opinion and won't be suddenly affected by the reported attack, he said.

Leif said he has not been inundated with negative public comment in light of the recent attack report.

He said that if such public sentiment were to become apparent, it could possibly affect management "in the long run."

But for now, the attack isn't likely to have much effect. "I would say this particular incident, one way or another, will not have a drastic, immediate impact on our management," he said.

Leif said the policy of dealing with problem lions probably won't change, either. Current GF&P policy says lions that pose an immediate threat to humans or show no fear of humans will be removed.

No decisions have been made about possible changes for the 2008 lion hunting season, Leif said. Staff members are still looking at the data, and a recommendation regarding the season will be made by regional staff in May.

During last year's season, hunters had a quota of 35 total lions or 15 female lions. The season ended when the 15th female was shot Nov. 23.

Leif said that the reported attack was not a surprise to the GF&P because the department has always been aware that an attack is possible. But he thinks it may be a wake-up call to the public.

"We've talked for years about the possibility (of an attack)," he said. "Until something like this actually happens, some people may question whether or not it truly could happen."

But Leif doesn't think people should be overly cautious and worried about attacks.

Neither does state GF&P regional wildlife supervisor Mike Kintigh.

"Lion attacks on humans are still, and are expected to remain, very rare," Kintigh said. "I can anticipate that the public in general around the Black Hills is going to go through a period of heightened nervousness."

Kintigh said the number of reported attacks likely would be higher if lions considered humans to be prey.

"People are out in lion country all the time, every day," he said. "And if lions viewed us as prey, we'd be hearing about a whole lot more attacks than we have."

Kintigh doesn't believe the attack is related to the amount of lions that now inhabit the Black Hills. The chance is still very small, especially considering there have been less than 200 attacks in the United States in the past 100 years, Kintigh said.

He thinks people should remain aware that an attack is possible but shouldn't become paranoid.

"It's still so rare that, in my mind, it's hardly worth worrying about," he said. "I certainly wouldn't advise anyone to change their lifestyle."

Contact Ryan Woodard at 394-8412 or ryan.woodard@rapidcityjournal.com