This year has already seen a spike in lion spottings and attacks. (Photo CPW)
Outdoor enthusiasts on the Western Slope of Colorado should keep an eye out for increased mountain lion activity, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials. Specifically people in and around Edwards, Colorado need to be extra-wary.
“We urge residents to be extremely cautious because lions are large, powerful predators and can be very dangerous if they’ve lost their natural fear of people,” said District Wildlife Manager Matt Yamashita. “We are monitoring the situation very closely. If you live in Edwards and the surrounding area, we strongly recommend extra vigilance and advise you to report lion sightings or conflicts to CPW immediately.”
Witness reports vary, but somewhere from 8-10 mountain lions have been spotted in the Edwards area, largely south of the Eagle River and in nearby Minturn. The lions have been spotted in and close to human habitats in the region. Additionally, officials report finding animal carcasses and at least two attacks on dogs.
“The young lions are nearly full grown, as large or possibly larger than their mother,” said Yamashita. “It appears the female lions are teaching their young to hunt among a human populated area. Considering we are talking about nearly full-grown lions, this is not a sustainable situation. We will take the appropriate management action as necessary, but what the action will be remains to be seen and will be based on our assessment of public risk and the lion’s behavior going forward.”
Some of the lions don’t appear to be afraid of humans. (Photo: CPW)
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife department is asking locals to contact officials if they see any lion activity by calling the Glenwood Springs office at (970) 947-2920 during office hours or the State Patrol after hours at (970) 824-6501. Residents are also encourage to call 911 in any emergencies.
“We will continue to monitor this situation and take the appropriate management action that is best for the public, and the lions,” he added. “Although moving the lions may be an option, it is important to have the proper perspective.”
Lion populations are in the spotlight this year since wildlife officials killed five lions engaged in animal attacks in 2019. Several lions were killed after attacking pets on private property, even under porches and decks.
One man made national headlines after surviving a mountain lion attack by choking the cat to death barehanded.
See Also: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Needs Your Feedback to Schedule Big Game Hunting
“We will not jeopardize the safety of people in other areas of the state, not to mention that a relocated lion may eventually die due to the stress of relocation or it may be killed by another lion in the area. That is a significant concern for us as well.”
“This is a troubling situation and we are very concerned for the safety and welfare of the people in this area,” said Northwest Regional Manager J.T. Romatzke. “We ask everyone to take this warning seriously.”
Romatzke stressed that wildife managers have clear roles when mountain lions put humans and their animals at risk. Even though the lions are an important part of wildlife in the Rocky Mountains, if they become unafraid of humans they can become a real safety problem.
Authorities believe there are at least two adult female lions with 3-4 fully grown cubs each in the area.
“We have a growing human population and we have more lions than ever before in some areas of Colorado,” said Romatzke. “Our officers, researchers and biologists are studying this very closely. We are looking at our best options, based on science, biology and sound management practices.”
What the hell does that mean “residents need to be extra wary” “we *will do* appropriate management”…
WELL TELL THOSE IDIOTS EITHER GET MANAGING OR GET FIRED
These public employees need to be told in no uncertain terms to open hunting on these cats to where –
1) the deer recover well
2) this cat populations down enuff to stay away from + afraid of humans having enuff area for even extra territorial room
GO SEE YOUR COUNTY + STATE LEGISLATURE TO FORCE ACTION
before people/children are torn up or killed = are the Wildlife “professionals” daft or Agenda 31 + 30 parasites on our soil.
These are animals offering danger to people, pets + livestock and there should NO excuses to be tolerated or replace them from authority in your State capitol governors office = if people band together + won’t take no for an answer the wingnuts will have to listen….
Then vote only Conservative Constitutionalist’s into office[or run yourself on commonsense].
*If – ALL – rural people vote that can happen- along with campaigns to educate this reality to the % of city folks that will listen to commonsense.
These animals are not endangered people+children are by cougar over population.
Rat’s are a pest- 150lb cougars can eat people = who’s side are these “employees” on-?
Tell them to get off the UN Agenda 21 + 30 protocol to “Rewild all America” for a Globalist planned NWO – this is America + WIIL remain OURS…
Yep! That’s unit 45 in Colorado, they only allow for one lion to be harvested from unit 45… also note that the Colorado mule deer population in WAY down, to the point that residents have to wait years to draw a piss poor tag for deer and unit 44 was once the tip top of Colorado mule deer hunting.
Thanks for nothing COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE!!
maybe you let us manage the predators like LIONS and BEARS in a affective way in order to help even out the populations of BEAR(overpopulated), LIONS(overpopulated), MULEYS(underpopulated).
No bait or dogs or spring season for BEARS…
OVER THE TOP REGULATION and no electronic calls or bait for LIONS!….
I don’t even want to start about the friggin $50 you now pay to keep YOUR moose points…
What the hell is going on in the colorado parks and wildlife???
Is it run by jarred polis appointees??
I’m not a baiter or a hound hunter but for f#ck sake, let the guys who want to hunt the predators hunt them in the most successful way possible. After the numbers drop back to the desired population then you can start limiting the number of tags and even increase the price to reflect value of the animals current standing. But what we have now is horse shit in Colorado for wildlife management officials….
But make sure to spend that 1000bucks on a out of state elk tag in a area that will be so orange you may think you’ve wandered into invesco field. All the elk will be kicking it on the local farms… our economy thanks you.
People are enchroching on them what do they expect?
I expect MORE LION TAGS to be issued in Colorado and in unit 45 specifically, WITCH ONLY ALLOWS ONE (1) LION TO BE TAKEN!!!
The Colorado PARKS and wildlife is a sad sad joke.
Piss poor predator management is what has led to the massive decline in Colorado’s mule deer population. 44,45 AND 444 Used to be the top of Colorado’s monster muley habitat…. until the save the bears and lions phase kicked in.. now the deer are goon and people will be killed by these innocent cuddley critters….. Jesus.
Hopefully stated with tongue in cheek…?
For that’s a total “straw man argument”.
ALL wildlife live + die in flux populations in what sustainable areas that can hold them = more then that they overpopulation to where predators will diminish prey till everything is gone then they starve or kill anything they find.
Overpopulation of cougar forces every new litter to range further out or be killed by the dominant cat.
Tho pushes that EXCESS population into human occupieded areas WHERE THEY DO NOT BELONG.
They’re dangerous animals when hungry + don’t belong near human populated areas learning to kill your pets in the neighborhood, livestock and be watching your children everyday play in your yard from a few feet away without fear = UTTER STUPITITY for intelligent people to tolerate.
Rat’s are pests – 150lb cougar can eat you + your children.
COMMONSENSE
NEEDS TO BE
APPLIED HERE-!
I think the title of this article should be reversed: “Colorado Residents Spotted Encroaching on Mountain Lions”. The mountain lions were there first.
So what?
“emmmm, LOOK OUT JIMBO, ITS COMMIN RIGHT FOR US!!!”
ha!
The cats may sense that, with the people that are moving there, it will soon be a gun free state. People are messing up Genesis 9:2.