Mountain lion attacks, kills horse near Hailey, Fish and Game says
A mountain lion attacked and killed a horse near Hailey on Sunday, the latest in a string of mountain lion attacks in the Wood River Valley over the last year.
According to an Idaho Department of Fish and Game news release, the mountain lion killed an “older mare” in a pasture in the Red Elephant Gulch region of Croy Creek. The area is about 7 miles southwest of Hailey.
Officials have not located the mountain lion responsible for the killing, though traps have been set in the area.
The Wood River Valley experienced a string of mountain lion sightings and attacks on pets early this year and in late 2019. Fish and Game officials told the Statesman in January that they began hearing reports of mountain lion sightings in August of last year. Typically the cats aren’t spotted in the area until winter weather pushes them closer to town.
In the last year, mountain lions were responsible for several fatal attacks on dogs and cats in the area, but this is the first reported depredation on a large livestock animal.
Fish and Game reminded residents and visitors to keep an eye out for mountain lions and avoid running away if they see one. Instead, people should yell and try to make themselves look bigger while maintaining eye contact with the mountain lion and backing away slowly. Anyone who sees a mountain lion in the area is asked to report it to the Fish and Game Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359.
This story was originally published August 27, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
