Southeastern Oklahoma is adjacent, and similar in habitat, to the Arkansas area where this survey was conducted. Tidwell found the cranium, but no other bones, in a remote area near Cedar Creek, approximately 2 km from the nearest residence and 21 km north of Broken Bow. Topography of the Cedar Creek area is rugged, with steep, rocky hills and deep ravines.
Vegetation is of mixed pines and oak-hickory hardwood forest.
The cranium appeared to have been exposed to the weather for several years, but was otherwise undamaged. The teeth were in good condition with no damage or deformities, but two middle incisors, two premaxillaries, and two molars were missing. Reports to me by local citizens of mountain lion screams and sightings in this area are common, but no verifiable evidence of their occurrence, other than this cranium, has been produced. Both Virgin and former McCurtain County Deputy Sheriff, Buford W. Hill of Broken Bow, were called to this same individual's residence regarding an escaped mountain lion on several occasions. Hill reported that this individual kept a tame mountain lion unrestrained in his house trailer with him, and during the summer of 1985 or 1986, this mountain lion escaped.