Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) wildlife officers shot and killed a mountain lion in a northwest Prescott neighborhood Sunday night after a resident reported that a mountain lion attacked his dog in his backyard. The reporting party also said that an accompanying mountain lion acted aggressively toward him.
The mountain lion that was killed, an adult female estimated to be between 3 and 5 years old, is believed to be one of several mountain lions that have killed three dogs and injured another three in the past four weeks. In addition to the mountain lion that exhibited aggressive behavior toward the dog owner Sunday night, a mountain lion also appeared within 10 feet of a mother and child two weeks ago in their backyard. These behaviors, along with the fact the mountain lions continue to be seen in proximity to homes and people, make them a public safety threat.
AZGFD is patrolling the area as one or more other mountain lions may still be in the vicinity. Prescott residents who see a mountain lion hanging out in areas of human development or exhibiting unusual or aggressive behavior are encouraged to contact Arizona Game and Fish Department dispatch at 623-236-7201.
For tips on avoiding conflicts with mountain lions and other wildlife, or on what to do if you encounter a mountain lion, visit www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife.
5 Responses
Protecting their pampered pooches is more important than wildlife and nature these folks supposedly moved here for. Look at all the dog rescue organizations not nearly so many for unwanted kids , or homeless vets .
So let me get this straight , an unattended dog in a back yard is more important than a mountain lion? I lived in P-22’s neighborhood for his entire life, He never attacked any dogs because people didn’t leave them out unattended.
It’s a shame they couldn’t have just relocated it instead. With all the houses going in all over, the wildlife are being run out of their homes. So sad.
This is an outright shame. Two legged’s move into the wildlife’s natural territory with their pets, that often serve no actual purpose other than emotional comfort, and the solution is to kill the mountain lions. What an absolute disgrace, and to justify it with the lion was acting “aggressive” towards someone; it is a lion, it by nature will do that, especially with a competitor species – Human-beings. This is yet another travesty, kill the natural wildlife off that has been here for time in memoriam to protect the K9’s that have no chance in nature against a lion, IE don’t bring your little dog to the forest and act like it is a big ole city. Merle Haggard had it right about Big Cities, and it is sad to watch beloved Prescott go the way of the dogs, literally and figuratively.
this is just like the people who move next to an airport and then complain about airplane noise.