The Colorado Division of Wildlife has determined that no charges are warranted against a man who shot a mountain lion on Oct. 5 because he acted to prevent injury to human life, said DOW spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill.
“We believe he was protecting his personal safety,” she said. The DOW isn’t naming the Wisconsin man, who was staying in a trailer near Gross Reservoir in Boulder County with his family.
The family was awakened by a noise outside the trailer in the early morning, and the man and his wife stepped outside to investigate. The lion had the dog, which was chained outside, in its mouth.
The couple shouted at the cat, but it refused to release the dog. The man ran into the trailer and returned with a rifle.
He shouted once more, and the lion began walking toward him. The man shot the animal dead. The dog survived.
Charges of illegal game taking carry a fine of $1,000 and a $370 surcharge.
