State wildlife officials say recent black bear spottings in Marthasville could just be the beginning of a migration of other species not normally seen in Franklin and Warren counties.The next apex predator which could be making its way to the St. Louis regions are mountain lions, if they’re not here already.Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Metro Media Specialist Dan Zarlenga says even if they become more prevalent in Missouri, mountain lions most likely won’t be seen, at least in this area.“It’s very unlikely, but not impossible,” Zarlenga said. “Even in states where reproducing populations of mountain lions do exist, sightings are not all that common. Mountain lions are typically secretive and wary of humans and populated areas.”GeraldAlthough secretive, the big cats were spotted in Franklin County four years ago.In 2014, two Gerald police officers spotted a Mountain lion following a report of a sighting by a motorist in a creek bed in the area of Highway Y.At that time, the officers reported the sighting to the MDC and alerted area residents to be on the lookout.But, Zarlenga says the sighting was never confirmed.“There may have been a sighting reported in Gerald in 2014, but it was not confirmed with any physical evidence,” he said. “To date, there have been no positive confirmations in Franklin County. To be classified as ‘confirmed’ some sort of physical evidence must validate the report — e.g. a verified photo or video, tracks, fur sample, prey kill, actual body, etc.”Zarlenga added confirmed sightings have increased in frequency over the last few years since MDC began tracking them about 20 years ago. However, he suspects this is due to expanding numbers in states that have breeding populations.“Younger males from these areas can roam hundreds or thousands of miles in search of mates,” he said. “Eventual recolonization of mountain lions in Missouri is a possibility in the future. We did find the first evidence of the presence of a female via DNA sample in February 2016. Up to that point and since, all animals for which gender could be confirmed have been males.”Much like the bears roaming into this area, lions would be searching for the same things.“Mates, territory and food,” Zarlenga said. “Speculation is they may be utilizing the Missouri River corridor for travel. The primary food for mountain lions are deer and elk. We have excellent populations of deer in Missouri. Mountain lions are reclusive, individual hunters.”Minimal dangerA person has a higher chance of being attacked by a dog or being in a fatal car accident driving to work on any given day than a mountain lion attack, Zarlenga said.There are certainly reports of mountain lion attacks on humans in western states, but they are actually quite rare.“There are also commercial jet airliner crashes and people struck by lightning, but just because they can, and rarely may happen, does not mean they are common,” Zarlenga explained. “Mountain lions are typically wary of humans. Attacks on livestock are possible, but again the mountain lion’s preferred food are wild animals like deer and elk. They also tend to go after the sick or injured.”He added in the two confirmed mountain lion elk kills in the state both “victims” suffered from brain worm.Big cats nearbyThe MDC has been keeping track of confirmed sightings since 1994, with 72 reports logged in Missouri.There have been several mountain lion sightings in Warren County since they began recording.Most recently, a subadult was hit and killed by a car in January 2017.Other reports in Warren County occurred in November 2015, January 2013 and November 2012, when photos of the big cats were captured on game cameras and later confirmed by other signs.The same happened in St. Louis County in January 2011 and an eyewitness account was confirmed with hair samples in July 2011 in Gasconade County.Mountain LionMissouri Department of Conservation photo