District Wildlife Managers Sam Peterson and Tyler Asnicar with the Colorado Division of Wildlife presented “Living with your lion neighbors” at the Nederland Community Center on December 7. 2022. The presentation also was recorded.
Peterson said the goal of the meeting is to familiarize the Wildlife staff with the community, and to stress the need for coexistence with wildlife. Parks and Wildlife constantly deals with the interaction between humans and wildlife.
Area residents have been concerned about mountain lion attacks in the area. Mountain lions have been reported near Pinecliffe and in Coal Creek Canyon. According to reports, the lion has killed at least three dogs and possibly another. A mountain lion attacked a neighborhood dog around the Aspen Way and Evergreen Spur area. Another report came from Tolland Road.
Peterson asked, What do wildlife managers do? They are game wardens, law enforcement, and educators, teaching geology and teaching a hunters program. Tomorrow they will be doing a sheep count.
Mountain lions are five to nine feet long, averaging 150 pounds. They are muscular and can carry a lot of weight and run far, Peterson said. They will not leave a paw print at the front of their tracks.
A single lion can’t eat all of its catch in one day, so it will bury it. If you see something with red on it in the ground, a lion is probably close by.
Feel free to call us, Peterson said. Stay calm, don’t turn and run, appear large, raise your backpack above your head. Fight back if it comes after you. A lion will try to get away. You cannot shoot a mountain lion unless you are protecting your personal property. If you have an encounter, call CPW and they will investigate.
Mountain lion hunting requires hunter safety training and a mountain lion hunting course. The season runs from November 28 to April 30. The quota is two lions.
Peterson said CPW manages wildlife, and can’t do it without your involvement. Keep pets close and utilize deterrent strategies. Do not feed wildlife. A warning shot is okay in a safe area, but an airhorn is recommended. Bear spray is effective on lions. On the trail, keep your head on a swivel and take the earphone out. Be aware of surroundings.
A man was attacked and three dogs were killed. The man went to the aid of the dogs, but all three dogs were killed in the attack, Peterson said.
The population of lions is growing. The lions will limit themselves and will disperse through the years. “We can’t do anything we don’t know about. Let us worry about the mountain lion,” Peterson said.
Contact: dial 911, or the Denver office, 303-291-7227. Call CPW, call the state patrol. Don’t depend on Facebook. For non-life threatening situations, call the State Patrol Dispatch at 303-239-4501.
For more information about living with mountain lions go to: https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/ LivingwithWildlifeLion1.aspx
