Mountain lion killed after it ‘lost all fear of humans’ and attacked dogs, officials say
Wildlife officials killed a mountain lion they suspected of attacking goats — and a pet dog — in Colorado.
The first report of a mountain lion attacking goats came in Feb. 1 from a property in Silverthorne, about 65 miles west of Denver, Colorado Parks and Wildlife said in a news release. The cougar had killed three goats in the attack.
Three days later, a resident reported a mountain lion bit their pet dog, officials said in the release. The dog’s owner scared the mountain lion off and took their dog to a veterinarian to treat its injuries.
While investigating the incidents, wildlife officers followed a set of tracks but didn’t find any mountain lion, officials said.
After a cougar took another goat from a property in Silverthorne on Saturday, Feb. 10, wildlife officers followed its tracks and drag marks in the snow and trapped the big cat near where it had stashed the goat’s carcass, officials said.
Officials believe the same mountain lion is responsible for all three attacks in Silverthorne. They “determined it had lost all fear of humans and had become a threat to human health and safety” — and decided to euthanize the 1.5-2 year old female.
About two weeks before the Feb. 10 attack, a mountain lion pounced on a dog in its backyard in nearby Dillon the night of Jan. 27 and dragged the dog away from its home, McClatchy News previously reported. That dog’s owners also scared the mountain lion off and took their dog to the vet.
However, officials don’t believe the same mountain lion was responsible for that attack.
Jeromy Huntington, area wildlife manager for the wildlife agency, called the situation “unfortunate” in the release.
“Incidents like these serve as a good reminder that we live in mountain lion country,” he said. “While we believe we were able to remove the mountain lion responsible for recent incidents, it’s important we continue to be aware of our surroundings and follow best practices for living in mountain lion country.”
It’s especially important for people with pets, livestock — and children — to take extra precautions to keep kids and animals safe.
What to do if you see a mountain lion
Mountain lions are typically “calm, quiet and elusive,” according to the National Park Service. While attacks involving mountain lions are rare, they are possible.
“Even so, the potential for being killed or injured by a mountain lion is quite low compared to many other natural hazards,” the National Park Service said on its website. “There is a far greater risk, for example, of being killed in an automobile accident with a deer than of being attacked by a mountain lion.”
Officials said there are some things you do take to prevent a mountain lion encounter from becoming an attack.
Stay calm and back away slowly.
Face the lion and stand up straight.
Don’t approach a mountain lion, especially if it’s with kittens.
Don’t run. It could stimulate a mountain lion’s chase instincts.
Pick up small children so they don’t panic or run away.
Don’t bend over or crouch down.
Throw things at the mountain lion if it continues to move toward you.
If the mountain lion attacks, fight back using anything around you.
Report all sightings, encounters or attacks to local park rangers or law enforcement.
It’s a good idea to know what to do if you see a mountain lion and to avoid attracting them to your home, Huntington said.
If you see one near your home, try scaring it off by making lots of loud noise — “setting off your car alarm, banging pots and pans together, blowing a whistle or air horn, etc.,” officials said.
“The goal is to make it as uncomfortable as you can so it leaves and does not return,” officials said.
Mountain lions are out and about and most active between dusk and dawn. If you need to let your pet out overnight, make sure to check the area, turn on lights and make lots of noise so the mountain lion knows you’re there, officials said. Don’t let your pets out of your sight and “never leave them out overnight.”
And don’t feed wildlife or feed your pets outside, since birdseed or pet food can attract raccoons, deer, and other mountain lion prey to your yard, officials said.
Report sightings or encounters in Summit County to the Hot Sulphur Springs Colorado Parks and Wildlife office at 970-725-6200. Contact Colorado State Patrol at 970-824-6501 for after-hours wildlife emergencies.
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