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Milwaukee Police Themselves Report Two Possible Lion Sightings

Some streets remained roped off Sunday as a precaution after Milwaukee police reported two sightings of what appears to be a lion.
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Some streets remained roped off Sunday as a precaution after Milwaukee police reported two sightings of what appears to be a lion.

Armed police, accompanied by Department of Natural Resources agents, converged Sunday morning on a bridge over Lincoln Creek after a police officer saw a "catlike" animal in a ravine, but "unfortunately we weren't able to keep visibility," and the animal likely has escaped the containment effort, Milwaukee police Lt. Paul Formolo said.

Another officer spotted what appeared to be the same animal overnight, leading police to focus their search near the intersection 30th and Fairmont streets.

Related: Milwaukee Lion Sighting: Police Close Streets in North of City

Formolo told reporters the officers would prefer to tranquilize the animal, but they are armed with lethal containment weapons if they're needed.

The suspected king of the jungle was first spotted last Monday, and a cellphone video showing a blurry image spooked Milwaukeeans. Since then, dozens of people have called police to report sightings.