BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) — A dog is lucky to be alive thanks to an attentive homeowner who spooked away a mountain lion before it could attack.
It happened on Feb. 4 around 8:30 p.m. The 25-pound doodle was in the backyard going to the bathroom when it suddenly started running around and barking.
About 30 seconds into the Ring doorbell video, a mountain lion darts on screen from the back of the yard, chasing after the dog.
That’s when Erin Needham can be spotted running out of her home, screaming at the mountain while she tries to chase it away from the dog. Eventually, the mountain lion is spotted running away.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said there have been three reports of mountain lion attacks on dogs in the same neighborhood as Needham’s since mid-January.
So what should you do if you see a mountain lion? CPW says do the following:
- Do not approach a lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
- Stay calm when you come upon a lion. Talk calmly and firmly to it. Move slowly.
- Stop or back away slowly, if you can do it safely. Running may stimulate a lion’s instinct to chase and attack. Face the lion and stand upright.
- Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you’re wearing one. If you have small children with you, protect them by picking them up so they won’t panic and run.
- If the lion behaves aggressively, throw stones, branches or whatever you can get your hands on without crouching down or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly. What you want to do is convince the lion you are not prey and that you may in fact be a danger to the lion.
- 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. Remain standing or try to get back up!
In 2019, a trail runner used his hands, arms and feet to choke a mountain lion to death when it attacked him.
Last year, a man used a wooden property marker to fight off a mountain lion that was attacking his dog.