A routine drone training flight became quite the unexpected wildlife encounter when a Boulder County Sheriff’s Office deputy recorded thermal footage of four mountain lions near the Nederland Middle-Senior High School.
Deputy Mike Fank was conducting a late-night thermal drone training flight when the aircraft captured the mountain lions in the area. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the training flight was conducted away from homes to avoid disturbing residents while providing deputies with the space to practice operating the technology.
Drone Training Prepares Deputies For Emergencies
Drone training has become an important aspect in preparing deputies for real-world missions like wildfire response, search and rescue operations, locating missing or endangered people, documenting scenes, and assessing dangerous areas from a safe distance.
Developing the skills during training allows the drone pilots to operate more effectively when an emergency does occur. The mountain lion footage also provided a pretty unique glimpse into the local wildlife activity without requiring deputies or members of the public to approach the animals.
Boulder County Officials Remind Residents To Give Lions Space
Residents are reminded not to enter private property or attempt to track mountain lions after sightings. All wildlife should be given plenty of space, and trained responders should be the only ones handling unusual or concerning encounters.
Mountain lions are generally the most active around dawn and dusk. Residents should keep pets close and on a leash, especially at night, and should avoid areas with thick vegetation or limited visibility.
If someone does encounter a mountain lion, officials recommend remaining calm, giving the animal space, and slowly backing away. People should raise their arms, open their jackets, and pick up small children or pets to appear larger. Never approach mountain lion kittens or a feeding lion, and always give the animals an escape route.
The sheriff’s office also advised residents to avoid attracting deer to their yards since deer can draw mountain lions into residential areas. Unusual or aggressive mountain lion behavior should be reported to Colorado Parks and Wildlife or the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office.