Man kills ‘extremely aggressive’ mountain lion with shovel in Colorado, officials say
An “extremely aggressive” mountain lion approached a man camping with his dog at a Colorado campground, and he killed it with a shovel, wildlife officials said.
Someone reported the incident, and when a Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer responded on Sept. 26, they “found the man with a dead (mountain) lion on the hood of his Jeep” at the campground west of Cañon City in Fremont County, the agency said in an Oct. 2 news release.
Fremont County is about a 45-mile drive southwest from Colorado Springs.
The encounter occurred the previous night, according to what the man told the officer. He said he had been sitting outside his car with his husky when the mountain lion, which officials said was a 95-pound female, approached them.
His dog started growling and barking, and when the mountain lion got within 10 feet of them, the dog engaged it, he told the officer. That’s when he struck the mountain lion on the head with a shovel and killed it, officials said.
At first, the officer found “that the man was in fear of his life and acted in self defense when confronted by a (mountain) lion acting unusual and extremely aggressive,” the release says.
But further inspection of the mountain lion’s body revealed its right front paw was injured and it had scratches along its back, the agency said. Its body was shipped to one of the agency’s animal health labs for a necropsy.
Wildlife officials are still investigating the incident. And because the man was not injured and the mountain lion never touched him, the encounter is not considered an attack under agency guidelines.
Only 25 mountain lion attacks on humans have been documented since 1990, the agency said. “Though mountain lion attacks are relatively rare, it is important to know how to avoid or manage potential encounters,” the agency said, including a link to information on living among the elusive predators.
Reducing risk of encountering mountain lions around homes
Be extra alert and make noise between dusk and dawn when mountain lions are most active.
Install outdoor lighting around your home and wherever you walk so you can see a mountain lion if one is around.
Keep a close eye on kids when they play outdoors, and make sure they’re inside before dusk and they don’t go outside before dawn. Talk with them about mountain lions and teach them how to behave if they “meet” one.
Minimize vegetation around your home where mountain lions can hide or approach undetected.
Don’t plant non-native shrubs and plants that attract deer to your property, which will then attract mountain lions. “Predators follow prey,” the agency said. “Never feed any wildlife.”
Don’t let pets roam unattended. They’re easy prey and can attract mountain lions. Bring pets inside at night, or lock them inside a kennel with a secure top. And don’t feed pets outside, as it can attract raccoons and other animals that mountain lions will eat. Store garbage securely for the same reason.
Keep livestock in enclosed sheds or barns overnight, and close doors to outbuildings “since inquisitive lions may go inside for a look.”
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 can do 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.
