A possibly ill mountain lion that followed a woman onto her porch, showed no fear of her dogs and behaved aggressively was shot and killed when it returned a second time.
According to sheriff’s office records, during the last few minutes of Nov. 21, a homeowner in the 21000 block of Happy Canyon Road called dispatch to report a lion on her porch, which did not respond to her barking dogs that were also outside.
“The mountain lion had no fear of the three large dogs, according to the owner. They also advised the mountain lion had hissed at the RP (reporting party) on her deck and was somewhat aggressive,” Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard said Monday. Lillard did not identify the reporting party.
A deputy and his sergeant responded to the call; they spotted the big cat about 100 yards from the residence, as well as one of the dogs. Lillard said the cougar “seemed to be unbothered by the presence of the vehicle, and the deputy, and the dog.”
The sergeant fired bean bag rounds from a 12-gauge shotgun to haze the lion off the property. The bags struck the cat twice, but it was “unfazed,” Lillard said. “Normally, that type of impact would cause the animal to leave the area immediately.”
The reporting party said the lion had followed her onto her porch, and she went inside. It lingered, according to Lillard’s reports.
After shooting the bean bag rounds, the MCSO officers contacted Colorado Parks and Wildlife to advise the agency of the situation.
The mountain lion eventually departed into the woods; however, it was back the following evening, according to other calls made to dispatch. Reports were that it was acting aggressively and displaying no fear of humans.
A deputy and corporal responded to the area again. Lillard said the homeowner reported she knew the lion had been back around; it was again undeterred by her five dogs, three of which are Great Pyrenees, a very large breed. The woman also said she’d been informed by CPW that the cat is likely ill and the agency had recommended euthanasia if it returned, per Lillard.
As deputies left the scene, they spotted the mountain lion walking up the driveway several hundred yards from the home. Based on CPW’s recommendation, one of the deputies fired his weapon at the animal, striking it. The cat darted into the bush, where deputies tracked it down to finish dispatching it
“It’s a sad deal, but it was very unusual a lion acted that way,” Lillard said. “I hate to see something like that happen, but when an animal is acting aggressive like that, it’s the best you can do, especially since she (property owner) had five dogs and the lion was not scared.”
Detailed information from CPW was pending. Agency spokesman John Livingston said the mountain lion appeared large and in good body condition.
It was not clear whether a necropsy has been scheduled; Lillard said deputies returned to Happy Canyon Road on Nov. 27 to assist CPW with picking up the lion.
People have the right to protect themselves and their pets if a lion is displaying aggressive behavior, Livingston said, adding that CPW is for now deferring to the sheriff’s office, as well as following up with the property owner. Based on initial reports, it appeared the situation was one in which lethal action was justified, he said.
Mountain lions are usually calm and elusive, although human-lion contact is increasing due to more people moving into the cat’s habitat, increasing deer populations and more use of trails in lion habitat, according to the CPW.
“It’s another reminder that pretty much all of Colorado is good mountain lion habitat,” Livingston said of the Montrose County encounter. “It’s important for people to remember that lions can always be around. Especially when there are deer, it is not uncommon to find lions.”
Article by KATHARHYNN HEIDELBERG Montrose Daily Press