The city of Boulder, Colorado, and the surrounding area is home to two large predators, both with the potential to pose a threat to humans if not respected and treated properly. Spotting a black bear in the wild is a pretty rare occasion but witnessing a mountain lion is much closer to a once in a lifetime opportunity. Mountain lions are nocturnal and incredibly secretive, and most people will never see one through their entire life, but they are around and understanding them is incredibly important for those living within their territory.
Boulder resident Evan Price captured footage of an apparently injured mountain lion near 16th Street and Iris Avenue, northeast of the heart of the city but still well within several towns and neighborhoods. According to his comments, Price called animal control but they said there was nothing they could do despite the visible limp.
Boulder doesn’t put a focus on removing or relocating lions spotted within the city as mountain lions are very territorial and very solitary. If one mountain lion lives in an area, it’s likely to be the only one there. If that cat is then removed, another is likely to take its place. Instead the city chooses to focus on educating its residents on both protecting their yards from the animals and staying safe if they encounter a mountain lion.
City of Boulder Mountain Lion Guidelines:
What to Do If You Meet a Lion
- Report a mountain lion sighting.
- Do not approach lions. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give the lion a way to escape.
- Stay calm if you come upon a lion. Talk to it in a firm voice in an effort to demonstrate that you are human and not its regular prey.
- Back away slowly. Running may stimulate a lion’s instinct to chase and attack.
- Face the lion and make an effort to appear as large as possible. Open your jacket or lift objects to appear like a more formidable opponent. Pick up your children.
- If the lion behaves aggressively, throw rocks, sticks or whatever you can pick up, without turning your back to the lion or bending down.
- If the lion would happen to attack, fight back. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. Remain standing and keep attempting to get back up if you are brought to the ground.
How to Protect Your Back Yard from Mountain Lions
- Talk when you are outside, especially from dusk to dawn when mountain lions are most active. The human voice is startling to a lion.
- Install outdoor lighting, following the city’s Outdoor Lighting Ordinance.
- Closely supervise children when they are outdoors. Talk with children about lions and teach them what to do if they meet one.
- Landscape or remove vegetation to eliminate hiding places for lions, especially around children’s play areas. Make it difficult for lions to approach unseen.
- Avoid planting non-native shrubs and plants that deer often prefer to eat, as predators follow prey. Do not feed any wildlife!
- Keep pets under control. Roaming pets are easy prey and can attract lions. Bring pets in at night. If you leave your pet outside, keep it in a kennel with a secure top. Do not feed pets outside as
- this can attract raccoons and other animals that are eaten by lions.
- Place livestock in enclosed sheds or barns at night. Close doors to all outbuildings since inquisitive lions may go inside for a look.
- Store all garbage securely.