A mountain lion that killed a Steamboat Springs family’s dog has been euthanized, officials said Wednesday.
After killing the Routt County family’s dog, Maison, earlier in the week, the lion stayed under a raised portion of the family’s home, according to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife news release.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers left the cat overnight, thinking it would leave the area. Eight hours later, the lion remained lodged under the home.
“This is odd behavior for an animal that usually moves away from any sort of human contact,” said CPW area wildlife manager Jim Haskins. “Our priority is human safety. Small children in the area and the animal’s unwillingness to relocate demonstrated profound risk.”
Citing a continued threat to human life, specifically young children in the family, wildlife officers decided to euthanize the mountain lion on Dec. 27.
Officers will be monitoring the area for more lion sightings and urges anyone who encounters aggressive wildlife to call Colorado Parks and Wildlife or Colorado State Patrol immediately.
For folks living in lion country, officials recommend precautions such as making noise if you’re outside during the times mountains lions are most active — dusk and dawn — and removing vegetation to eliminate hiding places for lions.
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@denverpost.com or @ehernandez
