Mountain lion tracks (and smells) in the snow in my back yard have gotten my beagle, Hunter Thompson, excited. As for me? I’m a little less excited.
I love living in the mountains, partly because of the wildlife. I’ve photographed countless deer, elk and red foxes in my yard, and seen raccoons and a bobcat along the trails of our neighborhood park. But mountain lions are different. Sure, I’d love to capture one on film, but on my own terms, and that’s not how these animals operate.
Last week, two mountain lions attacked and killed a small dog while its owners watched in Green Mountain Falls, and a mountain lion killed a family’s cat in Durango. Earlier this month, a mountain lion lurking near a Boulder elementary school was tranquilized by wildlife officials and moved to a remote area 50 miles away. Residents of Green Mountain Falls have also seen lions near school bus stops.
It’s been estimated there are between 3,000 and 7,000 mountain lions in Colorado. They usually avoid people, but they are opportunistic hunters that will munch on family pets.
The best approach if you encounter a mountain lion? The Colorado Division of Wildlife suggests you make yourself big and loud by holding your arms or your jacket over your head and yelling. Don’t run. If you have a child with you, pick him up and keep him quiet – a child’s voice might resemble prey to the lion. If you can pick up sticks or rocks without crouching down, do it and throw them at the lion. At home, don’t unwittingly bait the lion by letting your dogs and cats run loose, even in your yard, especially during the lions’ prime hunting time from dusk to dawn.
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