Mountain lion killed near Silverthorne after it was deemed ‘a threat to human health and safety’
Cody Thomas/Courtesy photo
Colorado Parks and Wildlife captured and euthanized a mountain lion in Silverthorne believed to be involved in two incidents involving goats and a dog, according to a news release Monday evening.
Officials believed the 1.5- to 2-year-old female lion had “lost all fear of humans and had become a threat to human health and safety.”
Parks and Wildlife investigated the most recent incident on Sunday after a goat was killed at a residence in Silverthorne the day before. The mountain lion was located after officials followed tracks and drag marks in the snow to where the predator had hidden the goat’s carcass.
The first reported incident that might have involved the lion took place Feb. 1, during which three goats were killed. On Feb. 4, officers responded to reports of a mountain lion that bit a dog in Silverthorne. The owner was able to scare the mountain lion away and take the dog to a veterinarian, where it was treated and released.
There have been other reports of mountain lion depredation as well, including a mountain lion that attacked a dog in Dillon on Jan. 27, and another animal attack on Feb. 5. Parks and Wildlife officials say investigators “do not believe this is the same lion responsible for the incidents in Silverthorne,” noted above.
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“These are unfortunate situations,” said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Jeromy Huntington. “Incidents like these serve as a good reminder that we live in mountain lion country. While we believe we were able to remove the mountain lion responsible for recent incidents, it’s important we continue to be aware of our surroundings and follow best practices for living in mountain lion country.”
Parks and Wildlife asks people to haze mountain lions away from property and to make them as uncomfortable as possible.
Keep animals on a leash and make noise before letting pets outside.
If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run, make yourself look big, announce your presence in a loud voice, retreat by backing away slowly while facing the lion and tell authorities about the encounter.
To report a mountain lion sighting, contact the Hot Sulphur Springs CPW office at 970-725-6200. For after-hours wildlife emergencies, you can also contact the Colorado State Patrol at 970-824-6501, and they will forward your report on to wildlife officers.
This story is from SummitDaily.com
