Mountain Lion Attacks Pet Dog in Colorado

A mountain lion in Colorado has been euthanized after it attacked a pet dog and was deemed a threat to human safety.

The lion appeared to have “lost all fear of humans,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said in a statement and had “become a threat to human health and safety.”

For this reason, officials decided to euthanize the animal.

It was also thought to have been involved in two recent attacks: one on a goat and one on a dog.

The first incident occurred on February 1, when officers received a report that three goats had been killed by the predator. A few days later, they then received a report from a property in Silverthorne that it had bitten a pet dog. Luckily the dog survived after its owner managed to scare the mountain lion away and take the pet to the veterinarian.

Then on February 11, officers received reports that a goat had been dragged away from another property in Silverthorne.

Following drag marks, where the lion had carried the goat in the snow, officers found that the lion had killed and eaten the animal.

Officials decided to set a trap for the lion overnight. After successfully trapping and tranquilizing the lion, it was euthanized, CPW reported.

The female mountain lion was around one and a half to two years old.

“These are unfortunate situations,” CPW Area Wildlife Manager Jeromy Huntington said in a statement. “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.”

Mountain lions are not usually a danger to humans unless provoked. But sometimes they can prove a nuisance with livestock, and instances where pet dogs have been hurt or killed are not unheard of.

At the end of January, a different mountain lion repeatedly jumped on a dog in the Dillon area after the owner let it outside, CPW reported. The mountain lion then dragged the dog away. The owner later found their pet alive at the Keystone Ranch Golf course. It was treated for injuries by a veterinarian. Officials were unable to find the mountain lion responsible.

Even though this was a different lion, it shows how residents need to take precautions, CPW reported.

Colorado is home to an estimated 3,000 to 7,000 mountain lions, and they are often lured to residential areas if they sense livestock, as this is an easy meal for the predator.

“If you must let your pet out between dusk through dawn when mountain lions are most active, check the area and make your presence known by turning lights on and making noise before letting your pet out,” CPW advised in a press release on the incident. “The goal is to make a mountain lion feel as uncomfortable and unwanted as possible so they will leave. Keep a close eye on them and never leave them out overnight. When walking your dogs, keep them leashed until you enter your home. Roaming pets are easy prey and can attract mountain lions.”

They also recommend placing livestock in enclosed areas at night.

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