Wildlife Officials Relocate Mountain Lion From Westminster Tree
Wildlife Officials Relocate Mountain Lion From Westminster Tree
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Key Points
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife believed the juvenile male had been traveling along a corridor toward Standley Lake for about a week.
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The mountain lion was estimated to weigh about 80 pounds and was sitting roughly eight feet above the ground in the tree.
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CPW said it received several calls about mountain lion sightings in the same neighborhood over the weekend, adding that sightings there are unusual but not unprecedented.
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Colorado is estimated to have between 3,800 and 4,400 mountain lions, most of them living in foothills, canyons or mesa areas.
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Wildlife officials advise people not to crouch or bend over when facing a mountain lion; instead, they should remain upright, make eye contact and pick up small children without turning away. They also recommend bringing pets indoors at night and not leaving pet food outside.
A juvenile male mountain lion trapped in a Westminster tree on Tuesday was tranquilized and relocated to mountains west of Castle Rock by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The roughly 60- to 80-pound animal had been spotted in the neighborhood for about a week, likely searching for territory or food after leaving its mother. Police closed Eaton Street between 112th and 113th avenues during the operation.
The relocation marks one of several mountain lion sightings in the Westminster area over the weekend. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the animal probably traveled along a corridor toward Standley Lake before getting stuck in the tree roughly eight feet above ground.
Young Lion Dispersing From Mother Into Suburban Sprawl
The captured mountain lion was a young male in the process of leaving his mother's territory to find his own space. Colorado Parks and Wildlife explained that juvenile lions naturally disperse to search for land and food sources. This particular lion had been wandering the Westminster corridor for roughly a week before residents spotted it high in the tree.
Unusual but Not Unprecedented Sightings in Denver Suburbs
Multiple calls about mountain lions flooded into Colorado Parks and Wildlife over the weekend from the same neighborhood. Officials said such sightings in Westminster are unusual but do happen occasionally. Colorado's estimated population of 3,800 to 4,400 mountain lions mostly inhabits foothills, canyons, and mesa areas far from neighborhoods.
How to Stay Safe If You Encounter a Mountain Lion
Never run from or crouch near a mountain lion, Colorado Parks and Wildlife warns. Instead, stand upright, make eye contact, and back away slowly. Make yourself look bigger and keep children and pets close. Bring pets indoors at night and never leave pet food outside, which can attract lions to your yard.
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