Rare mountain lion spotted by drone, Missouri video shows. “Had my heart racing!’

Accustomed to spotting deer while flying his drone in Missouri, Jack Huston thought he found one basking in a field.

Instead, it was a mountain lion, a rare sighting in the “Show Me” state.

“Witnessed the most amazing thing I have seen while on survey this past week,” Jack Huston, owner of Midwest Deer Surveys, said in an Oct. 7 post on Facebook.

Days later, Huston shared a video of his drone encounter. He said he was surveying near Columbia close to the Missouri River when he spotted the predator.

As he hovers the drone over the mountain lion, the creature looks right up at the camera.

“Look at those big paws on that thing,” Huston said in the video. “He’s kind of wondering why there is a drone looking at him.”

Huston said he watched the mountain lion for about 15 minutes until he flew his drone over a group of bucks checking out the unfamiliar feline.

Two deer tried to get a closer look, but the mountain lion was on to them. On multiple occasions, it tried chasing after the deer, which ran off into the woods.

“Had my heart racing!” Huston said on Facebook.

Since mountain lions travel 10 to 20 miles daily, Huston believes this particular predator is now “long gone.”

Once confirmed by the Missouri Department of Conservation, Huston’s find would be the 121st mountain lion confirmation in Missouri since 1996. None have been spotted since February 2024, officials say.

The Missouri Department of Conservation said there is a slim chance of a dangerous encounter with a mountain lion in the state. It’s not believed the species is reproducing in Missouri.

“Mountain lions are naturally shy of people and seldom cause problems, even in states with thriving populations,” officials say. “The danger of a mountain lion attack is highly unlikely compared to many other familiar dangers we encounter every day.”

Columbia is about a 125-mile drive east from Kansas City.

Mountain lions

Mountain lions are solitary, elusive animals, according to the National Park Service. The chances of seeing a mountain lion are slim, but people can encounter them.

“Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk,” park rangers said. “However, lions are unpredictable and can be dangerous.”

If you see a mountain lion, experts advise you:

• Don’t approach it: Mountain lions usually want to avoid confrontation. 
• Don’t run: It could stimulate their chase instincts. 
• Stand tall: Face the mountain lion and make eye contact. 
• Keep children close: If a mountain lion is approaching, pick up small children so they don’t panic or run. 
• Don’t crouch or bend over: A mountain lion could perceive you as prey. 
• Fight back: If a mountain lion attacks, use rocks, sticks, jackets or anything you can get your hands on to fight back.

This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 6:39 AM with the headline "Rare mountain lion spotted by drone, Missouri video shows. “Had my heart racing!’."