CPW euthanizes mountain lion near Silverthorne after wildlife officers determine it is a threat to human health and safety

Rachael Gonzales
Northwest Region Public Information Officer
970-773-8587 / [email protected]
Twitter: @CPW_NW CPW euthanizes mountain lion near Silverthorne after wildlife officers determine it is a threat to human health and safety

SILVERTHORNE, Colo. - On Monday, Feb. 12, Colorado Parks and Wildlife captured and euthanized a mountain lion in Silverthorne believed to be involved in two separate depredation incidents involving goats and a separate incident involving a dog. During the course of their investigation and observations on the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 11, after a second incident involving a goat was reported to CPW, the decision was made to euthanize the mountain lion after wildlife officers determined it had lost all fear of humans and had become a threat to human health and safety. The lion was determined to be a sub-adult (between the ages of 1.5 - 2 years) female. 

On Sunday, Feb. 11, CPW wildlife officers responded to the latest incident of a goat killed and taken at a residence in Silverthorne on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 10. Wildlife officers located the mountain lion by following tracks and drag marks in the snow to an area where the lion had cached the goat. Wildlife officers observed the mountain lion near the goat's carcass and set a trap overnight, successfully capturing the lion. Using a tranquilizer gun, wildlife officers were able to chemically immobilize the mountain lion and took it away from the area where it was humanely euthanized.

The first reported incident occurred on Thursday, Feb. 1. After investigating, wildlife officers confirmed three goats had been killed by a mountain lion. On Sunday, Feb. 4, wildlife officers responded to reports of a mountain lion that bit a dog in Silverthorne. The dog owner was able to scare the mountain lion away and took the dog to a veterinarian where it was treated for injuries it had sustained and later released.

In both incidents wildlife officers followed a set of tracks but were unable to locate the mountain lion. CPW wildlife officers believe the mountain lion responsible for the latest depredation incident on a goat is the same lion responsible for the incidents on Feb. 1 and Feb. 4. 

In addition to the incidents in Silverthorne, CPW wildlife officers responded to a mountain lion that pounced on a dog in Dillon on the night of Saturday, Jan. 27. After  being let outside, a dog was bit and dragged by a mountain lion away from its home. The dog owner was able to find the dog at the Keystone Ranch Golf course and take it to a veterinarian where it was treated for injuries. During the investigation wildlife officers searched for the mountain lion by following tracks, but were unable to locate it. CPW officials do not believe this is the same lion responsible for the incidents in Silverthorne. 

“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.”

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. 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.

Place livestock in enclosed areas at night and secure all outbuildings.

CPW also reminds you of the importance of talking with your children about mountain lions and what to do if they see one. Closely supervise children whenever they play outdoors, especially during dusk-to-dawn hours and teach them to be S.M.A.R.T if they have a close encounter with a mountain lion.

S- Stop. Do not run!
M- Make yourself look big.
A- Announce your presence in an authoritative voice: “LEAVE ME ALONE, LION!”
R- Retreat by backing away slowly.
T- Tell an adult about the encounter.

If you see a mountain lion, haze it away from your property by making loud noises - setting off your car alarm, banging pots and pans together, blowing a whistle or air horn, etc. The goal is to make it as uncomfortable as you can so it leaves and does not return.   

To report a mountain lion sighting or encounter in Summit County, 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.

"It's important to know how to protect yourself, children, and your pets and what to do if you see a mountain lion," said Huntington. "We also stress the importance of ensuring you are not attracting mountain lions to your home."

• Do not feed wildlife. Feeding one species will bring in the entire food chain.  Remove bird feeders. Birdseed will attract numerous small game and deer to your yard, which will in turn invite mountain lions.

• Don't feed pets outside; this can attract raccoons and other animals that are prey for mountain lions.

• Supervise your pet when outside, especially dusk through dawn.

• Keep your pets under control. Roaming pets are easy prey and can attract mountain lions. Bring pets in at night. If you leave your pets outside, keep them in a kennel with a secure top.

• If deer are lingering on your property, you can haze them away (yell, use air horn, alarms, etc.) to minimize the chance of a mountain lion encounter in your yard. If you have deer, you will have mountain lions. Same goes for raccoons.

For more information on living with mountain lions, and what to do if you encounter one, please visit our website.