Jim Avril/picture courtesy
After a rise in mountain lion assaults in Grand County, together with Grand Lake, Colorado Parks and Wildlife launched a report warning residents to remain alert, as a result of lions are nonetheless within the space.
Residents have seen extra mountain lion exercise in current months, each with safety cameras and with their very own eyes. Primarily based on the sightings, the residents of Grand Lake believed that three lions have been of their space. Parks and Wildlife said that the primary reported assault occurred on December 19, 2022, west of the Shadow Mountain Reservoir.
“After leaving her canine exterior at round 10pm, the canine’s proprietor heard her canine making noises,” the report reads. “Whereas opening the door to see what was happening, the proprietor hit a mountain lion on the door, inflicting the canine to drop and run away. The canine was injured however survived.”
The second assault additionally came about within the Shadow Mountain Reservoir space. On January 19, Grand Lake native Sarah Gonzalez was coming back from a stroll together with her canine. A lion ambushes the canine from below the balcony, killing it. After makes an attempt to scare the lion away fail, Sarah’s husband shoots and kills the lion. The lion was a feminine about 7 years outdated.
“After investigation, the responding wildlife officer decided there was a risk to human well being and security and didn’t ticket the canine’s proprietor,” the report said.
The newest assault came about on Monday, January 23. Grand Lake resident Kathy Lund was coming back from a stroll together with her canine. After they reached the entrance door, a lion rushed in and grabbed the canine. Lund managed to scare off the lion, and the injured canine was taken to the vet’s workplace.
Parks and Wildlife officers responded to the scene, monitoring the lion by following tracks within the snow to a close-by tree.
In line with the report, wildlife officers decided that there was a risk to human well being and security primarily based on data from the proprietor. The lion officer, who they decided was a feminine, was killed at about 1.5 to 2 years outdated.
Residents noticed three lions touring collectively, and the kitten was seemingly the seven-year-old lion cat that killed Gonzales’ canine. Typically cats They journey with their mom for as much as about two years, though they often separate after about 15 months.
In response to the current assaults, District Wildlife Director Jerome Huntington said, “These are unlucky conditions. Incidents like this function reminder that we dwell in mountain lion nation and that consciousness of our environment is essential.”
Sarah Polley/video courtesy
Of their report, Parks and Wildlife outlines the next measures individuals can take to dwell safely in mountain lion habitat.
- When letting pets exterior between nightfall to daybreak (when mountain lions are most energetic), examine the world and activate lights and make noises earlier than letting pets exterior. Watch them intently and do not go away them in a single day.
- If house owners should go away pets exterior in a single day, hold them in a coated shelter.
- Maintain canine on a leash whereas strolling. Roving pets are straightforward prey and may entice mountain lions.
- Watch kids intently when they’re taking part in outside, particularly throughout the dusk-to-dawn hours and educate them to be sensible if they’ve a detailed encounter with a mountain lion.
- S-stop. don’t run!
- M- Make your self look outdated.
- A – announce your presence in a solemn voice: “Go away me alone, lion!”
- R- Undo by slowly backing away.
- T- Inform an grownup concerning the encounter.
- When encountering lions on their property, residents can drive them away by making loud noises – sounding automobile alarms, banging pots and pans collectively, blowing a whistle or air horn, and so forth.
- Don’t feed wildlife. Feeding one species will deliver all the meals chain up. Take away chicken feeders. Birdseed will entice many small animals and deer, which in flip will invite mountain lions.
- Don’t feed pets exterior. This may tempt different animals to fall prey to mountain lions.
- If deer are lingering on their property, residents can drive them away (shouting, utilizing air horns, alarms, and so on.) to scale back the prospect of encountering a mountain lion. Deer and different prey might be introduced by mountain lions.
“It is essential to know the right way to defend your self, your kids, and your pets, and what to do if you happen to see a mountain lion,” Huntington mentioned. “We additionally need to stress the significance of guaranteeing that you do not entice mountain lions into your own home.”
The report states that the objective is to make the mountain lion really feel as uncomfortable and undesirable as potential in order that it leaves. Though two aggressive lions have been killed, Grand Lake and Grand County on the whole are dwelling to different lions.
“It’s important that we’re notified of mountain lion sightings or a battle occurring instantly,” mentioned Parks and Wildlife Officer Serena Roxund. “The sooner we all know, the earlier we will begin observing the lion and its conduct.”
To report a mountain lion sighting or encounter in Grand and Summit counties, name the Scorching Sulfur Springs District workplace at 970-725-2600. For after-hours wildlife emergencies, name the Colorado State Patrol at 970-824-6501 and they’ll ahead all stories to wildlife officers.