A woman pried apart what she thought were fighting dogs outside her Idaho home only to discover the animal she was gripping in one hand was a juvenile mountain lion.
According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), a woman was alerted to her dog fighting outside her home in the small town of Mackay on the morning of Jan. 30.
Assuming it was another dog, she intervened.
“Her husband responded and quickly dispatched the mountain lion as she held on to it.”
According to the IDFG both the woman and dog are doing fine but picked up some scratches.
Rare Attacks on Humans
According to the IDFG, Idaho has an abundant and sustainable mountain lion population.The incident in Mackay was the third incident that month of a mountain lion attacking a dog.
IDFG advises, “People who live near wintering deer should understand there is likely to be mountain lions nearby, too, and they should be aware of their surroundings, and not leave their pets outside and unattended, especially in early mornings, late evenings and at night when mountain lions are most active. ”
Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare.
There have been no recorded incidents of mountain lions killing people in Idaho, according to IDFG, but two human fatalities by mountain lions occurred in Oregon and Washington in 2018.
Later reports stated that he had chocked the animal to death.
The unnamed man got himself to the hospital after the incident in the foothills of Horsetooth Mountain on Feb. 4, with what the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) department describes as serious, but nonlife-threatening injuries.”
The lion was a juvenile.
“The lion lunged at the runner, biting his face and wrist,” said the CPW statement. “He was able to fight and break free from the lion, killing the lion in self-defense.”
‘We Recommend Targeting the Eyes and Nose’
“The runner did everything he could to save his life. In the event of a lion attack you need to do anything in your power to fight back just as this gentleman did,” said Mark Leslie, Colorado Parks Wildlife Northeast Region manager, in a statement.Adult males can typically reach 180 pounds, and females 130 pounds. Some rare ones have topped 200 pounds. Adult males will measure 6 to 8 feet from nose to tail tip and females 5 to 7 feet.
Those who are lucky—or unlucky—enough to have a rare encounter are advised by the CWP to stay calm, talk firmly to it, and never turn your back on the animal.
“Stop or back away slowly, if you can do it safely,” said the CWP advice. “Running may stimulate a lion’s instinct to chase and attack. Face the lion and stand upright.”
Never approach a lion, especially one with kittens.
If the lion behaves aggressively, the advice is to throw stones, branches or whatever is to hand—but “without crouching down or turning your back. ”
“Fight back if a lion attacks you. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. People have fought back with rocks, sticks, caps or jackets, garden tools, and their bare hands successfully. We recommend targeting the eyes and nose as these are sensitive areas.”
