The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is offering a reward to find the people suspected of stoning a cougar to death.
A man and his daughter were hiking in the hills east of Payson on Jan. 26 when, at a distance, they saw people kneeling and moving near the base of a tree, according to a DWR news release. The people fled west toward Payson Canyon when the father and daughter got closer, the release adds.
The pair hiked to the tree and found the recently-killed cougar covered in blood and surrounded by a few large rocks, which investigators believe were used to kill it.
The man and conservation officers searched the area, but could not find the suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to call the poaching hotline at 1-800-662-3337. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
mmcfall@sltrib.com
Twitter: @mikeypanda