On Friday, August 1st, Colorado Parks and Wildlife worked to relocate a mountain lion that had been hanging around the east side of Boulder for a few weeks. The agency worked with Boulder Police and the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks to capture, sedate, and relocate the wild animal. Fortunately the entire operation seems to have gone off without a hitch and the team moved the mountain lion to a safer location and released it under the moonlight.
We used teeth size and condition to determine she is an older adult female lion. Once she's in the crate, officers administered a wake up drug and continue to monitor her health. pic.twitter.com/hkvFpih6Qw
— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) August 4, 2025
The Mountain Lion’s Journey in Boulder
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the mountain lion had been spending time on the east side of Boulder for about 1-2 weeks. The agency does not specifically state whether this was the same mountain lion that killed a dog on July 25th, though it does seem possible that it was. The Boulder Police released a statement warning the public to be aware of mountain lion activity after the attack on the dog.
Capture & Relocation
The relocation began with officers safely darting the animal. Once it was down, CPW placed a mask over the cat’s face to keep it calm and monitor oxygen levels. Additionally, officers attached hobbles to the animal’s legs to make it easier to carry.
Officers were able to safely dart the mountain lion. We place a mask on its face to keep the lion calm and monitor oxygen levels. Hobbles are attached to its legs for an easier way to carry.
— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) August 4, 2025
Check out the size of those paws! pic.twitter.com/JsKR54rhkb
Teeth size and condition allowed the organization to determine that the mountain lion is an older adult female lion. Once they had her safely placed in a crate, officers used drugs to wake her up. They continued to monitor her health as they transported her to a new location. After a lengthy drive to better mountain lion habitat, officers released the cat into the wild.
After a long drive to better mountain lion habitat, officers released her by the pale moonlight pic.twitter.com/IzvU8uu4CR
— CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) August 4, 2025
Boulder Police Mountain Lion Encounter Guidelines:
• 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.
