Mitchell, Neb. ? A farmer who lost a filly and a calf in suspected mountain lion attacks in the past week has won permission to shoot the protected animal.

L.D. and Sharon Alderson have received the state’s approval to shoot any mountain lions on their property, even though the animals can’t be hunted in Nebraska, said Gary Schlictemeier, the state Game and Parks Commission’s district manager.

The Aldersons received that permission Monday, a day after they discovered the stripped carcass of a 2-week-old, 60-pound bull calf on their farm, two miles northeast of Mitchell.

That discovery came five days after a 6-month-old, 650-pound filly was killed on the Alderson farm.

The state Game and Parks Commission was investigating both killings as possible mountain lion attacks.

Mountain lions became a protected species under Nebraska law in 1995 and can’t be hunted, but they can be killed if they are threatening livestock or safety.

Stories of mountain lion sightings have been reported recently on west campus at Kansas University.