Elusive predator seen prowling through snow in CO neighborhood. ‘Too close to home’
An elusive predator was spotted prowling through snow near a home’s doorstep in a Colorado neighborhood, photos show.
The resident called 911 to report it Saturday, Jan. 11, and told authorities she thought it was the same mountain lion one of her neighbors posted on the Ring Neighbors app a few days earlier, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said Jan. 12 on its social media accounts.
That lion was spotted in the Greenwood Village neighborhood next to Cherry Creek State Park, about a 15-mile drive southeast from Denver.
Deputies responded but didn’t find the mountain lion, the department said.
The department encouraged anyone who sees a mountain lion to contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife, or call 911 to have dispatch connect you to someone at the wildlife agency.
“This is too close to home,” someone wrote in the comments on the department’s Facebook post.
Many pointed out that humans have encroached on mountain lion habitat.
The city of Boulder, about 30 miles northwest of Denver, warned that although the predators typically try to avoid confrontations with humans, overall mountain lion activity was expected to rise in the winter months.
Several people pointed out how healthy the mountain lion appeared in the photos.
“Beautiful, looks very healthy as well,” someone replied to the department’s post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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.
