For a long time they said we didn't have a resident population of mountain lions aka a breeding population. I don't think you'll ever hear them say there's no chance an individual animal of any species has wondered into the state. It happens know with wolves, bears, wolverines, etc but one probably wouldn't argue that we have a viable population of those animals hear. That's the difference and really, prior to the time of the mountain bike incident, sightings were rare. When South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana populations started to grow and expand was when we started seeing more here and a breeding population was established. I know a couple wardens and I can tell you definitively they do not have discretion in cases like this. The department heads at Game and Fish might but the field warden does not. I'm pretty certain this was an incidental catch but once you cross that line and allow them to be kept where does it stop? I've heard of incidences of bighorn sheep and elk being shot thinking they were deer, more than one elk killed when someone doesn't realize they hit the first one and shoot again, mule deer or whitetail being shot thinking they were shooting the other species. All probably honest, yet negligent, mistakes. Should they be allowed to keep those animals. It sucks in these situations but unless it's black and white you'll always have problems.
