They kill 3 cougars who ate human remains

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Cougar attacks, also known as mountain lions, are not common in North America, according to authorities.

(CNN) - Three cougars that ate human remains had to be eliminated, the Arizona Department of Hunting and Fisheries said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) said they were conducting an investigation on the Pima Canyon Trail near Tucson. "Human remains were discovered during the course of this investigation," a PCSD statement said.

"The Sheriff's Department, along with the Office of the Medical Examiner, and the Department of Fisheries and Hunting are working together to determine what happened on this path and more information will be provided as it becomes available," said PCSD.

In a statement provided to KGUN, an affiliate of CNN, the regional supervisor of the Arizona Department of Hunting and Fisheries (AZGFD), Raul Vega, said: “Cougars are not routinely scavengers. A cougar that eats human remains is an abnormal behavior. Those who do are more likely to attack a human being in the future. ”

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Vega added: “In addition, they did it 50 yards from a popular hiking trail and in sight of the houses, and repeatedly showed no fear of responding to agents. They were a clear and present danger to public safety. ”

AZGFD said it is not suspected that cougars killed the victim. An autopsy for the victim is scheduled for Thursday. Animals "are being preserved as potential evidence in the investigation of death," says the AZGFD statement.

On Tuesday, the US Forest Service (Coronado National Forest) said on his Facebook page that they were working with other authorities, "to protect public health and safety while the Arizona Department of Hunting and Fisheries tries to catch pumas that have recently interacted with humans."

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The United States Forest Service added: “The wildlife that is habituated to human presence lives in a less natural state that can generate conflicts with humans and problems for both humans and animals. Visitors are encouraged to observe their surroundings, recreate themselves safely and "maintain wildlife" while avoiding interaction with wild animals. "